Simon Grayson was this afternoon sacked as Leeds United manager.

The axe fell on his three-year reign following last night's 4-1 loss to Birmingham at Elland Road.

Chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "We have 18 games to go this season and are still within touching distance of the play-offs, but felt with the transfer window now closed we needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players and make the difference."

Former Bantam Neil Redfearn, the current Leeds youth team boss, has been put in temporary charge until a replacement is appointed.