Peterborough United manager Luke Williams has left London Road after 47 matches in charge

Williams was dismissed after Saturday’s appalling 2-0 home defeat at home to a Doncaster Rovers side who had started the day bottom of the League One table. He had been in charge for 11 months and 47 competitive matches.

Posh won 17 of those games and lost 20, but it’s just two wins in the last 22 League One matches.

Williams enjoyed a bright start to his tenure after replacing Darren Ferguson, who had also been sacked after losing to a team rock bottom of the table, but Posh won only one of the last 15 League One games of last season. They have won just one of their first seven third tier matches this term.

The 45 year-old has struggled to get a tune out a young group of players and his messaging in recent interviews before and after games has been poorly received by fans who booed aggressively at the end of each half this afternoon.

It’s another blow for Darragh MacAnthony whose record of appointing managers, with the exception of Darren Ferguson, has been abysmal. Ferguson is not likely to return for a fifth managerial stint. Former MK Dons and Oxford United manager Karl Robinson has already been linked with the job.

Ryan Harley, Williams’s assistant, will take charge of Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy clash at home to Colchester United (September 22, 7pm kick off), and probably the League One game at Stockport County next Saturday (September 26).

The official Posh statement read: “Peterborough United Football Club has today parted company with first team manager Luke Williams. The football club, would like to place on record our thanks to Luke for all his efforts during his time at the Weston Homes Stadium.

‘This is not a decision the club has taken lightly. However, the team's form in League One has not matched the board's expectations, particularly given the significant investment made in the squad, and following today's performance against Doncaster Rovers the board felt it had no other choice but to make a change.

‘The club's existing coaching staff will take charge of the first team squad while the Board considers its next steps.’