LONDON (AP):

Luiz Felipe Scolari was fired as Chelsea manager yesterday after a string of poor performances dropped the team far back in the Premier League title race.

The club said in a statement that the Brazilian coach, who took over from the fired Avram Grant in June, had been dismissed with immediate effect after just seven months in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Many positives

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League, seven points behind Manchester United, after Saturday's 0-0 draw with Hull. The Blues have dropped 16 points at home this season.

"Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon," the statement said. "Unfortunately, the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.

"In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for, we felt the only option was to make the change now."

Assistant Ray Wilkins will take charge of the team on an interim basis.

Manager search

Chelsea said they had already started a search for a new manager and hoped to announce a permanent appointment "as soon as possible."

There were reports yesterday that Russia coach Guus Hiddink might move to Stamford Bridge as director of football, with Grant returning as coach. Former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola, now manager of West Ham, was also considered a potential candidate.

Scolari, who guided Brazil to the World Cup title in 2002, came to Chelsea after six years as coach of Portugal.

Chelsea won the league title in 2005 and 2006 under Jose Mourinho, who left in the middle of last season after falling out with Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich. Mourinho is now at Inter Milan.

The pressure had been mounting on Scolari before the Blues were held at home by Hull on Saturday. During that game, some fans chanted "You don't know what you're doing", when Scolari made substitutions, and the team was booed off the field at the end.

Strong start

Chelsea made a strong start to the season under Scolari, winning 10 of their first 13 league games. But the team lost its proud 4 1/2-year unbeaten home league record of 86 games when they were defeated 1-0 by Liverpool. Home losses followed to Arsenal and the Blues also dropped points to Newcastle, West Ham, Everton and Fulham.

Chelsea also lost 3-0 at Manchester United and 2-0 at Liverpool, as well as being knocked out of the League Cup by second-tier Burnley.

Former Chelsea midfielder and manager John Hollins said Scolari, despite his success on the international stage, failed to master club football management.

"You can't knock him for what he's done internationally, but club football is a different ball game," said Hollins, who managed the club from 1985-88. "I feel he couldn't adapt to the everyday thing (of club management). Internationally, he's had time to look at a game and pick a team, but (Chelsea) is instant."