Wakefield have parted company with Australian-born head coach James Webster after just 11 months.
Webster, 35, becomes the first coaching casualty of Super League just 48 hours after the Wildcats suffered a 36-30 home defeat to second-tier Championship side Leigh in the sixth round of the Challenge Cup after squandering a 22-0 lead.
Wakefield have appointed assistant coach Stuart Dickens as interim coach as they begin the search for a successor.
Webster, a former player with Hull KR and Widnes, became Super League's youngest head coach when he succeeded Richard Agar last June and enjoyed immediate success, guiding Wakefield to four wins and a draw in his first five matches as they comfortably avoided relegation.
The Wildcats began the 2015 season with back-to-back wins over Castleford and Hull KR but have since suffered 11 successive defeats - including a Super League record 80-0 mauling by Warrington - which have left them seven points adrift at the foot of the table.
"James rescued us last season from the threat of relegation and for that I am truly thankful," said Wildcats chairman Michael Carter.
"I wish James and his family every success and happiness in the future and thank him for all his hard work in his four years here."
Webster, who has been working with the lowest budget in Super League, spoke of his frustration in Sunday's post-match press conference when he revealed has unsuccessfully tried to offload players in a bid to shake up his struggling team.
"I felt now was the right time to allow someone else the opportunity to take the team forward," Webster said in a statement.
"In taking this decision, my hope is it will allow the club to fulfil its goal and remain in Super League."
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