Long-serving Hamilton manager Billy Reid has left the Irn-Bru First Division club.
Reid - who turned down the chance to manage Swansea in 2010 - was Scotland's longest-serving manager having joined Accies in 2005.
Hamilton confirmed Reid's departure ahead of a fuller statement from chairman Les Gray.
The brief statement read: "The club confirm stories circulating that Billy Reid has left the club as manager."
Captain and Under-20s coach Alex Neil and academy director Frankie McAvoy will take charge of the team for the rest of the season.
Gray stated that Reid and the club had "parted company with immediate effect".
He added in a statement: "The club would like to thank Billy for his almost eight years in charge - a period which has seen the club at its highest level in almost 80 years, with three seasons in the SPL - including a seventh place finish - three Scottish Cup quarter finals and two Ramsdens Cup finals.
"The decision to separate was an amicable one. Billy felt he needed a fresh challenge and the club was like-minded. It was simply and naturally felt that it was the right thing to do at the right time.
"Billy has already indicated that he will be at Dunfermline to support the team on Saturday and will be at the home game v Airdrie Utd next Tuesday as well."
Reid's spell in charge saw Hamilton produce the likes of James McArthur and James McCarthy, both of whom signed for Wigan and went on to play international football.
Hamilton moved up to seventh in the Irn-Bru First Division, six points above the relegation play-off place, following a 2-1 home win over Dumbarton last night.
Gray last week said in an interview with the Hamilton Advertiser that the team had "under-performed" this season.
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