Motherwell have announced that they have parted company with manager Jim Gannon.

GettyImagesJim Gannon suffered his fourth loss in a row.

The Fir Park club's board said the decision was not related in ''any way whatsoever'' to recent results - Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to St Johnstone was their fourth loss in a row.

Motherwell chairman John Boyle, said: ''It is deeply regrettable that the board has felt it necessary to part company with the manager at this stage of the season but we have reached a situation where we felt there was no other option.''

Boyle added: ''Generally, results on the field have been satisfactory since Jim Gannon was appointed and the board wishes to make it clear that today's decision is not related in any way whatsoever to recent results.

''Over the past couple of months it has become abundantly clear that the manager was not fully committed to the club and, despite our best efforts, he repeatedly refused to sign a contract.

''Relations between the manager, staff and directors deteriorated to the extent that the situation became untenable.''

Gordon Young, the club's head of youth, will take charge of the team for Wednesday's Premier League match against Hearts at Tynecastle.