Former Wanderers defender Dean Holden has been sacked as Bristol City boss after six successive defeats.

The Robins were beaten at home by Reading on Tuesday night which proved to be the end for Holden who took over in the Ashton Gate hotseat seven months ago.

A 2-0 defeat to the Royals was a sixth in a row, failing to score in five of those, as they dropped out of the top half of the Championship.

It was a second taste of management for Holden who previously had a 15 game spell in charge of Oldham Athletic between February and May 2015.

He replaced Lee Johnson in the summer, having previously been the No.2 at City, and enjoyed a fine start, winning six of his first seven competitive fixtures.

Holden, who started his playing career at Bolton, has endured a tough time with injuries  this season, but he leaves having lost half of his 30 Championship fixtures.

Holden had worked as No.2 to Johnson for four years before taking on the top job.

A club statement read: "Dean Holden has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

"Following a sixth successive defeat, the Bristol City Board have decided that a change of Head Coach is necessary.

"Assistant Head Coaches Paul Simpson and Keith Downing will take charge of training until further notice.

"The club would like to thank Dean for his service to the club over the years and we wish him well for the future."