Kolo Toure SACKED As Wigan's Manager, Just After Two Months In Charge Of The Championship Strugglers.

Wigan Athletic have parted ways with head coach Kolo Toure only after 58 days of appointing him as manager of the Championship side.

The former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool's defender was only appointed as Leam Richardson's successor on November 29, but has failed to improve the Latics' fortunes at the bottom of the Championship.

He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club, as the appointment was seen as another breakthrough for black coaches, especially for African coaches. 

Toure was tasked with the role of steering the former Premier League outfit away from danger amid the threat of relegation from the Championship, but he did not win any of his nine games in charge, drawing three and losing six.

Wigan took the drastic decision to sack the 41-year-old Ivorian after Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Luton Town, the 2013 FA Cup winners, also lost the recent FA Cup clash between the sides.

The Latics were 22nd when they appointed Toure, but are now at the foot of the 24-team table, on 25 points in 28 games, after taking just two points from Toure's seven Championship matches at the helm.

They are without a win since Nov. 12, before the pause in competition for the 2022 World Cup.

Wigan’s job was Toure’s first role as the head coach of a football team. He had previously assisted Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City while he was also part of the Northern Irishman’s backroom staff at Celtic. 

He also had a short spell as Ivory Coast assistant manager in 2017. 

Toure departs from the DW Stadium alongside coaches Kevin Betsy and Ashvir Johal, both of whom have also been relieved of their duties.

"Firstly, I’d like to thank Kolo, along with Kevin (Betsy) and Ash (Johal), for their efforts during their time at the football club," Wigan chief executive Malachy Brannigan said in a club statement.

"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.

"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."