FORMER AFC Totton boss Stuart Ritchie has been sacked by Havant & Waterlooville - just under six weeks into the new season.
The Blue Square Bet South club announced the departure of Southampton-based Ritchie and his right-hand man Barry Blankley in the wake of last night's 3-0 defeat at home to Weston-super-Mare which left the Hawks languishing third to bottom of the table.
That result followed hot on the heels of Saturday's bitterly disappointing FA Cup second qualifying round exit at lower league North Leigh.
An H&W statement released this morning said: "The club would like to announce that after the 0-3 loss to Weston-Super-Mare last night Stuart Ritchie and Barry Blankley have both been relieved of their duties as manager and assistant manager respectively of Havant & Waterlooville FC.
"This is due to a poor sequence of results and displays that have seen the club drop to third from bottom in the BSB South table after just nine matches.
"(Director/stadium manager/fitness coach) Adi Aymes will step in as interim manager for the forthcoming match against Bromley, with a permanent manager being announced a couple of days after that fixture is completed."
