IAIN Dowie has been sacked as manager of Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Coventry, the club announced today.The Sky Blues lie 19th in the table, four points above the relegation zone, following the 1-0 defeat at Preston on Saturday - their fifth loss in six league games.

IAIN Dowie has been sacked as manager of Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Coventry, the club announced today.

The Sky Blues lie 19th in the table, four points above the relegation zone, following the 1-0 defeat at Preston on Saturday - their fifth loss in six league games.

Assistant manager Tim Flowers and Bob Dowie, another member of the backroom staff, have also left the Ricoh Arena, with Frankie Bunn and John Harbin placed in charge of team affairs for tomorrow's league clash at home to Cardiff.

A statement on Coventry's official website said: "Iain Dowie, Tim Flowers and Bob Dowie have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect."