Charlton break pledge and axe Phil Parkinson

Phil Parkinson and his coaching staff have been sacked by Charlton's new owners. The decision comes after the 4-2 defeat at home to Swindon on Monday and the npower League One club will announce the appointment of a caretaker manager "in due course".

Following the takeover of the club last week, new chairman Michael Slater had stated he would back Parkinson in the January transfer window and give him every support.

Slater has now backtracked on his comments, confirming the departure of Parkinson, assistant manager Tim Breacker and first-team coach Mark Kinsella. "Clearly improvement is needed on the field. The team has not won in the league since November and recent performances have simply not been good enough," he said.

Parkinson was appointed at The Valley in 2008 and leaves the Addicks in fifth place of League One, just three points off the automatic promotion places.

Elsewhere, Stockport have sacked manager Paul Simpson after less than six months in the job. The npower League Two club have won just five of their 23 league games since Simpson - once interviewed for the Hibs job before Mixu Paatelainen was appointed in 2008 - was installed as Gary Ablett's successor in July and lie four points above the relegation zone.