Reading have parted company with manager Brendan Rodgers "by mutual consent", the Coca-Cola Championship club have announced in a statement.
The Royals have followed in the footsteps of fellow strugglers Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday, with Paul Mariner taking over from Paul Sturrock as Argyle boss last week and Brian Laws leaving Hillsborough on Sunday.
Rodgers takes his leave with the Royals languishing one place and three points above the relegation zone.
A brief statement on the club's official website read: "Following a meeting this afternoon, the chairman, the board of Reading Football Club and Brendan Rodgers have agreed by mutual consent that Brendan Rodgers will leave his position as first-team manager with immediate effect.
"Reading Football Club will make no further comment at this stage."
The club later revealed chief scout Brian McDermott will take temporary charge of first-team affairs, starting with Saturday's trip to Bristol City.
The Northern Irishman's exit comes little more than six months after he took over at the Madejski Stadium and will be regarded by many as something of a surprise despite the club's lowly league position.
The Royals won only five league games under his stewardship and just one of those victories came at home - a 2-1 triumph over Blackpool on November 21.
However, results had started to improve in recent weeks and it was thought the 36-year-old would be given more time to haul the team away from the foot of the table.
© Press Association