Reading sack manager Steve Clarke

Reading manager Steve Clarke looks on ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Reading on October 24, 2015
© Getty Images
Reading sack manager Steve Clarke following their 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.

Reading have sacked manager Steve Clarke after 12 months in charge.

Clarke's dismissal comes in the aftermath of their last-gasp 1-0 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers last night.

The loss was Reading's third in their last four matches and they have only won one of their last eight league games.

The 52-year-old revealed two weeks ago that he had been in discussions with Fulham regarding the vacant managerial role at Craven Cottage, but said that it was "the best option by a mile" to stay with Reading.

However, Reading have dismissed Clarke just two weeks shy of his one-year anniversary at the Madejski Stadium.

A statement on the club's official website read: "The board of Reading Football Club have this morning relieved manager Steve Clarke of his duties.

"The club met with Steve in person earlier today and we would like to place on permanent record our thanks to him for his hard work and diligence since his appointment in December 2014.

"Following Thursday night's defeat at home to QPR, added to a recent run of poor form which has seen the team pick up just one win in the last eight Sky Bet Championship fixtures, the board feel that a change in manager is now necessary."

Clarke leaves Reading in ninth place in the Championship table.

Reading manager Steve Clarke looks on ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Reading on October 24, 2015
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Burnley442415568353387
2Middlesbrough44269960283287
3Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton442415570403087
4Hull City4322111062332977
5Derby CountyDerby442114965412477
6Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds441817962431971
7Cardiff CityCardiff441716115547867
8Ipswich TownIpswich441615134949063
9Birmingham CityBirmingham441613155046461
10Brentford43178186464059
11Preston North EndPreston441416144243-158
12Leeds UnitedLeeds441416144855-758
13Queens Park RangersQPR441318135353057
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves441315165056-654
15Reading441313185054-452
16Huddersfield TownHuddersfield441312195861-351
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest441215174045-551
18Blackburn RoversBlackburn441116174245-349
19Rotherham UnitedRotherham441310215265-1349
20Bristol City441213195070-2049
21Fulham441115186576-1148
RMK Dons44912233664-2839
RCharlton AthleticCharlton44813233876-3837
RBolton WanderersBolton44415254080-4027