Wycombe Wanderers have parted ways with head coach Michael Duff, making him the first managerial casualty of the Football League season. First-team coach Alex Morris was also dismissed.
The club cited a disappointing run of results since the spring and the need for a new direction in a statement released on the club's website. Duff, 48, became the Chairboys' head coach last September. Although he guided the team to the verge of the League One play-offs last season, their form has since declined, resulting in a winless start to the current campaign across all competitions. Wycombe currently sits 23rd in the League One table with three points from five matches.
This marks the second consecutive season Wycombe has been the first club in the league to dismiss its manager in September. Last year, Duff's predecessor, Mike Dodds, was sacked on September 19 after eight league matches, with the team then in 19th place, despite having reached the play-offs the season prior.
Duff concluded his playing career 10 years ago after more than 350 appearances for Burnley. He also played for Cheltenham and earned 24 caps for Northern Ireland.
Last season, the first managerial change across the top four divisions occurred on September 9 when Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked by Nottingham Forest. Sheffield United's Ruben Selles followed five days later, becoming the first EFL boss to be dismissed.