SAM Allardyce has today been sacked as manager of Blackburn Rovers.

Venky's, owners of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, today confirmed his departure along with assistant manager Neil McDonald with immediate effect.

First team coaching duties will be taken on by first team coach Steve Kean for the immediate future.

A club statement said: "We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club.

"We would like to put on record our thanks to Mr Allardyce for his contribution to Blackburn Rovers Football Club."

Allardyce tonight said he was “very shocked and disappointed”, in a statement released by the League Managers Association.

He added: "I am extremely proud to have managed this club and I enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the players, my staff and the supporters during my time in charge.

"I now wish them and the football club every success for the future”.

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Martin Jol has been installed as the bookies' favourite to succeed Allardyce.

Rovers lost 2-1 away to Bolton yesterday, the team where he made his managerial name and brought European football to for the first time in the Trotters' history.

That defeat left them still five points clear of the bottom three and in no obvious danger.

The sacking - announced at around 4.45pm - came after several bookmakers had suspended betting following a surge of money on Allardyce being axed.

The odds on his departure fell from as high as 66/1 to even money.

William Hill also revealed many of the gamblers betting on Allardyce were also placing money on Avram Grant to leave West Ham, leading them to conclude Allardyce may be headed for Upton Park.

The family behind Indian poultry giants Venky's took control of Rovers just over three weeks ago.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph on November 24, Anuradha Desai issued a warning to Allardyce, saying: "I want you to entertain us as well as get results."

In the days following that interview, Rovers lost 7-1 at Old Trafford to Manchester United and on Sunday lost against local rivals Bolton Wanderers, who were down to 10 men.

But under the new owner the side did enjoy home wins over Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Rovers sit 13th in the table, just three points from seventh place.

In Tuesday's Lancashire Telegraph newspaper: exclusive interview with Venky's chair Anuradha Desai on the sacking of Big Sam.