Crystal Palace have today parted company with manager Trevor Francis. Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant will take over for the remainder of the season, with their first game against Rotherham at Selhurst Park tomorrow.
Chairman Simon Jordan told the club's official website: "I am totally committed to playing in the Premier League and I will ensure the new manager can achieve this aspiration.
"I would like to thank Trevor for all his hard work and would like to wish him the very best for the future."
It is only three weeks since Jordan told Francis, who took over at Selhurst Park in November 2001, he would have to wield the axe if he wanted to save his job.
Jordan blasted his players for lacking the hunger to reach the Barclaycard Premiership after watching Palace's play-off hopes fade.
He said at the time: "I'm not having this group of players here next season. There will be dramatic changes in the summer. I have players here who have no appetite for real success.
"They're earning eight grand a week and they have a big-time Charlie attitude. I'm not watching next year what I've had to watch this year. At times we've been a disgrace."
Jordan also demanded a written blueprint from Francis and his assistants Terry Bullivant and Steve Kember outlining their strategy for winning promotion next season.
But he admitted being unimpressed by the document and said: "The report they produced wasn't really the mentality I wanted. I wanted a road map to the Premiership."
Palace won 4-1 at Grimsby last weekend but that came after a run of just one win in eight games which has left them in 11th place in the Division One table.
Everything appeared to be rosy when Palace dumped Liverpool out of the FA Cup in February but their form since has led to Francis' departure.