Premier League club Leicester City have sacked manager Nigel Pearson, according to Sky sources.
Nigel Pearson: Shown the door by Leicester City
Sky Sports News HQ reporter Rob Dorsett said: "My sources have confirmed to me that Leicester City have sacked Pearson this afternoon and the hunt for a new manager begins immediately.
"This has not come as a huge surprise to Leicester fans or most people in football. Leicester are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and have been for several months.
"Defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday was a killer blow to Nigel Pearson and I think you have to add to that the incident with James McArthur on Saturday, a bizarre incident that a lot of people saw.
"Leicester's owners have taken the view with the club rooted to the bottom of the table with 14 games to go that it is time for a change. You cannot underestimate the impact of the incident with McArthur where he was knocked over accidentally by McArthur and Pearson reacted by pretending to throttle him."
Pearson was involved in a fracas with McArthur after the Palace midfielder had accidentally felled the Foxes’ boss on the touchline during the 1-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
Pearson had initially appeared to playfully grab McArthur around the throat, before helping him to his feet, only to then prevent him from returning to the pitch by grabbing hold of his shirt.
"I didn’t see that one coming if I am honest,” Pearson, who tried and failed to sign McArthur in the summer, said after the game.
“But there you are. I was pushed to the floor and held my own.”
Pressed in his news conference on why he held back McArthur, Pearson added: "Because he said something to me.
"I don't have to reveal anything do I? I'm more than capable of looking after myself."
Pearson leaves the Foxes rooted at the foot of the table after scoring just three goals in their last eight home Premier League games - they have won just four out of their 24 league matches this season.
The incident with McArthur is not the only bizarre situation that Pearson has been involved in this season.
The Leicester manager was handed a one-match ban by the FA and fined after he was caught on film shouting and swearing at a home fan during the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at the King Power Stadium in December.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher reacted to Pearson's sacking by saying: "I always feel sorry for managers who bring teams up and then get sacked in the Premier League.
"If you come up, naturally you’re going to be fighting down the bottom. Of course no team wants to be bottom but someone has to be. He did a fantastic job last season and everyone was delighted - players, staff, supporters… You’ve got to accept it’s going to be a tough challenge.
Sky Sports expert Dwight Yorke added: "It’s the timing for me.
"They’ve been bottom of the table most of the season, they should have done it at the halfway stage and given that person the opportunity to come in and bring ideas. Now they have to bring in a new manager and put someone in charge until they find the adequate person.
"The players will feel disappointed that they’ve let the manager down. After that famous win against Manchester United we expected Leicester to kick on, they haven’t been able to do that. "