26 January 2023 , 19:40
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Kolo Toure has been sacked as manager of Wigan Athletic after failing to win any of his nine matches in charge of the struggling Championship club.
The former Arsenal and Manchester City defender was appointed Latics boss in late November but failed to guide his side to a victory in any of his matches in charge. A run of just two points from seven league matches saw them slip to the foot of the Championship standings.
Saturday’s two-goal loss at home to Luton Town proved to be Toure’s final game at the helm, coming just four days after his side’s FA Cup Third Round exit to the same opposition after a replay. It was Toure’s first job in management.
Toure's coaching staff Kevin Betsy and Ashvir Johal have also left the club, with first-team management to be taken over by the remaining senior staff until a long-term successor for the former defender is appointed.
Malachy Brannigan, Wigan’s CEO, told the club’s website : “Firstly, I’d like to thank Kolo, along with Kevin (Betsy) and Ash (Johal), for their efforts during their time at the Football Club.
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“Unfortunately, the results on the field have not been as we would have liked and as tough a decision as this was, the Board felt it necessary to give us the best possible chance of remaining a Championship club next season.
Toure's first role in management has come to a premature end (Getty Images)“We know that this time of year is a key period for any football club, ourselves included. Therefore, we will now work swiftly and effectively to ensure the right person is appointed as the next permanent manager of Wigan Athletic, with the immediate objective of remaining in the Second Tier for next season.”
Former Arsenal and Liverpool defender Toure retired from playing in September 2017 and joined Brendan Rodgers' coaching staff at Celtic. He followed his former manager to Leicester in 2019 and had continued to juggle his responsibilities as a first-team coach at the King Power Stadium with a role in the Ivory Coast set-up until his appointment at Wigan.
Toure departs Wigan with the club bottom of the Championship standings, one point off 23rd-placed Blackpool despite having played a game more. They are four points from Cardiff City and safety, with 18 rounds of actions remaining this season.