BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea sack head coach Liam Rosenior, Calum McFarlane appointed until end of season

BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea sack head coach Liam Rosenior, Calum McFarlane appointed until end of season originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Chelsea have sacked head coach Liam Rosenior after just three-and-a-half months in charge.

Rosenior was appointed after Enzo Maresca's abrupt departure from Stamford Bridge and leaves 23 games into a six-and-a-half-year contract After a promising start under the former Hull City and Strasbourg boss, when the Blues won six out of his first seven matches, their form has completely and utterly collapsed. Chelsea have lost seven of their past eight matches, with the only break in that slump a 7-0 FA Cup win over League One Port Vale. Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Brighton was Rosenior's fifth consecutive league defeat — all without scoring a goal, their longest top flight goalless streak since 1912 — after which Rosenior lambasted his players for a lack of effort and professionalism .

With the club seven points shy of the Champions League places after playing 34 games, one more than fifth-placed Liverpool , and an FA Cup semifinal against Leeds on the horizon, Chelsea's hierarchy have decided to act. Calum McFarlane, who led the team for two games after Maresca's exit, will take interim charge until the end of the season. Getty Images More to follow MORE: 'What I witnessed I never want to see again': Rosenior rips Chelsea players after 'unacceptable' Brighton defeat