Wigan Athletic sack coach Hutchings after bad start to season

 Assistant manager Frank Barlow will take over as a caretaker manager until the club, who are stuck in the relegation zone, finds a permanent replacement.

 "Wigan Athletic have announced this morning that they have parted company with manager Chris Hutchings with immediate effect," the club said in a statement.

 "The club wish to put on record their immense gratitude for Chris' efforts, in particular his contribution to the meteoric rise of Wigan Athletic over the past six and a half seasons."

   Barlow will lead the team against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

 For Hutchings, it is a sad case of history repeating itself.

 Having replaced Paul Jewell in the summer, he lasted the same number of league games as he did when he took over Jewell at Bradford City in 2000.

DPA