West Bromwich Albion have sacked head coach Tony Mowbray after just three months of his second spell in charge.

The 61-year-old was dismissed after Monday's 3-1 home defeat by relegation-threatened Derby County - a loss that all but ends the Baggies' hopes of making the Championship play-offs.

The former Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough boss was reappointed as Albion head coach in January, almost 16 years after he left The Hawthorns for Celtic in June 2009.

He replaced Carlos Corberan who left the club to take over at Spanish top-flight side Valencia with the Baggies then sitting seventh in the table.

But Mowbray has led the club to just five wins in his 18 games in charge and they are six points off the play-off spots in 10th place with two games to play.

While the club can mathematically still make the top six, it would take a unlikely set of results for them to have a chance.

Mowbray's assistant Mark Venus has also left, with former Albion midfielder James Morrison placed in interim charge, to be assisted by Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Tony and Mark for their efforts – but has made the decision to part company following a series of poor results," a short Albion statement said.

"Tony and Mark will forever be welcome at The Hawthorns and their contributions to the club winning the 2007-08 Championship title will never be forgotten."