Sunderland fires manager Gus Poyet with club struggling

SUNDERLAND, England (AP) — Sunderland reacted to its latest humiliating loss in the Premier League by firing manager Gus Poyet on Monday, in a late attempt to retain its place in England's top division.

The 47-year-old Uruguayan left Sunderland after less than 18 months in charge, with the team a point above the relegation zone with nine games to go. Sunderland has won only four of its 29 league matches — the same as last-place Leicester.

Former Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat has been touted as a short-term solution until the end of the season and was travelling to Sunderland late Monday for talks, according to widespread reports in the British media.

The 67-year-old Advocaat, who had two stints in charge of his native Netherlands and is currently out of work, has never managed in England.

Ellis Short, the American owner who rewarded Poyet with a new two-year contract in May, lost patience after a 4-0 home loss to an Aston Villa team that hadn't previously scored away in the league in more than 10 hours. Sunderland has also lost 8-0 to Southampton this season and is the only side to lose at home to Queens Park Rangers.

Last year, there was the high of reaching the League Cup final and a miraculous escape from relegation danger after four late-season wins in a row. But fans have started to turn on Poyet as the team plunged toward the bottom three in recent weeks.

"I would like to thank Gus for his endeavors during his time at the club, in particular last season's 'great escape' and cup final appearance, which will live long in the memory of every Sunderland fan," Short said on Sunderland's website.

"Sadly, we have not made the progress that any of us had hoped for this season and we find ourselves battling, once again, at the wrong end of the table. We have therefore made the difficult decision that a change is needed."