Bradford City have sacked Blackburn Rovers favourite Mark Hughes after a terrible start to the League Two season.

The Bantams reached the play-off semi-final last year, losing out to Carlisle United. However, their hopes of automatic promotion have been dashed this season by a poor beginning to the campaign.

Bradford have only won three of their first 11 League Two matches, leaving them 18th with 13 points. Hughes' style of play had become a sticking point with supporters and he was booed by their fans after a 3-1 home defeat to Walsall at the weekend.

"After 11 league games we find ourselves a long way away from where we expect to be," said Bradford chief executive Ryan Sparks.

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"As a result, the decision has been taken to move in a different direction in an effort to get our season on track.

"On a personal level, I have very much enjoyed working alongside Mark and [assistant manager] Glyn [Hodges], and we go our separate ways on good terms.

"They made a great impact when they arrived at the club, both on and off the field, and last season came close to delivering on our aims. Unfortunately, since our defeat at Carlisle in the play-off semi-final, results have been disappointing."

Hughes' decision to drop into League Two was something of a shock at the time, having been appointed in February 2022. His last role had been managing Southampton in the Premier League but a three-year absence from the game convinced him to drop down the pyramid.

He finished 14th in his debut season before making the play-offs in 2022/23. Kevin McDonald has been placed in temporary charge of the team for their weekend match against Swindon Town.

Hughes remains a very popular figure at Ewood Park, having overseen Blackburn's most successful period of the 20th century. Rovers finished sixth in the Premier League in 2005/06 before Hughes left to join Manchester City a few seasons later.