FORMER Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson has been sacked by Sunderland after five games without a win.

The Black Cats sit eighth in League One, seven points behind leaders Hull.

Parkinson leaves the club 13 months into a two-and-a-half-year contract, while assistant Steve Parkin, his right-hand man at Bolton, has also departed.

Another ex-Wanderer in first-team coach Andrew Taylor will take charge of the club on a temporary basis.

A Sunderland statement read: “The club would like to place on record its thanks to both Phil and Steve for their efforts during their time at SAFC.

“Preparations for Tuesday’s Sky Bet League One fixture against Burton will resume on Monday, with first-team coach Andrew Taylor taking charge of the squad.

“The board will now begin the search for a new manager and will make no further comment until this process is completed.”

Parkinson is the latest manager to experience a short tenure at the Stadium of Light.

There have been 10 permanent managers since Steve Bruce became the last man to stay in charge for more than two years between June 2009 and November 2011.

Owner Stewart Donald has been trying to sell Sunderland for some time but the club has declined to comment on reports that a deal is close to being completed.