Dundee sack manager Paul Hartley after losing run
Seven defeats for the Dens Park side sees them sit 11th in the Scottish Premiership
Last updated 17th Apr 2017
Dundee have sacked manager Paul Hartley, the Premiership strugglers have announced.
The Taysiders have lost their last seven matches and sit second-bottom of the table, five points ahead of Inverness with five games remaining.
Managing director John Nelms told the club's official website: "I want to thank Paul for his time with the club. Unfortunately, the business we are in, sometimes change is necessary to achieve the goals we have set. I think somebody in the near future is going to get a good hard working manager."
Nelms is currently addressing the players and staff and the club will release a further update shortly.
Dundee have won only eight league games this season and their first post-split fixture is at Motherwell on Saturday week.
Hartley joined the Dens Park outfit in February 2014 and took the club up from the Championship to the top flight in his first season.
The club statement read: "Dundee Football Club have this afternoon relieved manager Paul Hartley of his duties.
"Paul took charge of the club in February 2014. He took the club to the SPFL Championship title before clinching a top-six finish in our first season back in the top flight.
"Last season after missing out on the top six on the final day, the club went on to finish eighth in the top division.
"The club currently sit 11th in the Premiership table and the board of directors feel a change is needed ahead of five vital matches between now and the end of the season."
The Dark Blues slipped into the bottom two of the relegation play-off spots following Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Hamilton.
After the match Hartley said: "The performance disappointed me in certain aspects. We've got to handle the criticism. I understand that too.
"It's a major blow for us. How do we change it? It's hard because we've done everything we can.
"In terms of systems, players, different shapes, personnel. Trying to find a way to win a game and we're not doing it just now, we're not quite good enough.
"I can understand the fans booing. If you're on a run like we are the first thing they'll come for is the manager. I'll handle that. It's part and parcel of football."