Sitting just a single point above the drop zone, Sunderland has fired manager Gus Poyet on Monday following Saturday's 4-0 dismantling at the hands of Aston Villa.

The Black Cats, 17th in the Barclays Premier League table, have won just once in the last 12 matches.

Poyet, a former Uruguayan international who spent eight seasons in the BPL with Chelsea and Spurs, took over at the Stadium of Light in October of 2013.

He guided the team to safety last season, finishing 14th, thanks to four wins in the team's last six matches, including wins over Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.

The team will be in tight again this season to avoid relegation, largely due to an inability to score. Sunderland has managed just 23 goals on the year, second-worst in the BPL, and has had a league-high seven goalless draws this term.

Parting with a manager this late into the season (the Black Cats have only nine remaining league games on the schedule) means that hiring a permanent boss now will be difficult for club chairwoman, Margaret Byrne. West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has been linked to the job, but will be unlikely to leave before season's end. Former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat is said to be a possibility for caretaker manager for the rest of the season.

Sunderland is back in action on Saturday when they visit Allardyce's Hammers.

The team has yet to announce who will be in charge of the club for Saturday's match.