Graham Potter was sacked by Chelsea just hours after Leicester City parted ways with Brendan Rodgers

Chelsea have sacked their head coach Graham Potter, the football club has announced.

The announcement came just hours after Leicester City and Brendan Rodgers also parted ways.

Rodgers was the 12th Premier League boss to lose his job this season, with Potter becoming the 13th shortly afterwards.

Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa on Saturday. During the game, some fans called for Potter to lose his job.

Potter had insisted after the defeat that Chelsea’s players were “fighting together” despite the result.

“The offense was there. The score is painful for us. I can’t really say which one sounds positive,” Potter said in his final comments at the helm.

In a statement, the club’s owners said Potter had agreed to work with the club on the transition to a new coaching staff.

A club statement on the sacking said: “Chelsea FC has announced that Graham Potter has left the club.

“Graham has agreed to work with the Club to facilitate a smooth transition.

“During his time at the club, Graham took us to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where we will face Real Madrid.

“Chelsea would like to thank Graham for all his efforts and contribution and wish him every success in the future.”

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Bruno Saltor – who only joined Chelsea as part of Potter’s team at Brighton – will take over as interim manager following Potter’s departure.

Joint-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have previously pledged their loyalty to Potter after sacking Thomas Tuchel at the start of the season to install the former Brighton boss less than seven months ago.

Tuchel has now taken charge of German champions Bayern Munich. Recently sacked Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is already being linked with the now vacant head coaching role at Chelsea.

Chelsea’s owners said after sacking Potter: “On behalf of everyone at the club, we want to sincerely thank Graham for his contribution to Chelsea.

“We have the highest respect for Graham as a coach and as a person. He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity and we are all disappointed by this outcome.

“Along with our incredible fans, we will all be behind Bruno and the team as we focus on the rest of the season.”

Chairman Leicester felt “compelled” to act

Leicester City, who are involved in an unexpected relegation battle, lost to a last-minute goal against Crystal Palace this weekend after initially taking the lead against Roy Hodgson’s side.

The Foxes fell into the relegation zone after the defeat, which extended their winless run to six games.

Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said in a statement: “The performances and results this season have been below our shared expectations.

“It was our belief that continuity and stability would be key to correcting our course, particularly given our past achievements under Brendan.

“Unfortunately, the desired improvement has not taken place and with 10 games of the season remaining, management is forced to take alternative measures to protect our Premier League status.

“The task ahead of us in the last 10 games is clear. Now we have to come together – fans, players and staff – and show poise, quality and fight to secure our position as a Premier League club.”

Rodgers’ assistant Chris Davies and first-team fitness coach Glen Driscoll have also left.

First-team coaches Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell have been placed in immediate caretaker charge, tasked with preparing the squad for Tuesday’s game against Aston Villa.

Get more reaction to the sackings on Sky Sports News.