Chelsea have dismissed head coach Liam Rosenior after 106 days in charge, following a run of form the club described as falling "below the necessary standards," including five consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring. Tuesday's 3-0 loss at Brighton, Chelsea's worst scoreless league run since November 1912, proved the final straw. Rosenior called the performance "indefensible" and "unacceptable" after facing angry chants from the club's travelling supporters. The result left Chelsea seventh in the Premier League on 48 points, seven behind Liverpool who occupy the fifth and final Champ

Chelsea have dismissed head coach Liam Rosenior after 106 days in charge, following a run of form the club described as falling "below the necessary standards," including five consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring.

Tuesday's 3-0 loss at Brighton, Chelsea's worst scoreless league run since November 1912, proved the final straw. Rosenior called the performance "indefensible" and "unacceptable" after facing angry chants from the club's travelling supporters. The result left Chelsea seventh in the Premier League on 48 points, seven behind Liverpool who occupy the fifth and final Champions League qualification spot.

Chelsea said the decision had not been taken lightly. "Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season," the club said in a statement.

Rosenior had signed a five-and-a-half-year deal after arriving from French club Strasbourg, also owned by Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. He won five of 13 Premier League games and guided the club to the FA Cup semi-finals with four wins over lower-league opposition, but managed only 11 victories in 23 matches across all competitions.

Assistant head coach Calum McFarlane will serve as interim manager for the remainder of the season. The 40-year-old previously stepped in for a 1-1 draw against Manchester City and a defeat at Fulham in January after former boss Enzo Maresca was sacked. His first match back in interim charge is Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Leeds at Wembley.

Sources told BBC Sport that Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Fulham head coach Marco Silva, and former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic are among candidates under consideration as permanent replacements. Iraola, 43, announced last week he will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, while Silva's contract at Fulham expires in July.

"As the club works to bring stability to the head coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment," Chelsea said.

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