Philadelphia Phillies fire manager Rob Thomson after dismal 9-19 start
The Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday following a disastrous 9-19 start to the Major League Baseball season.
Reports in the United States indicate the struggling franchise dismissed the 60-year-old after dropping to the very bottom of the standings.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly will take immediate charge of the team on an interim basis.
Disastrous start prompts change
The Pennsylvania-based outfit entered Tuesday tied with the New York Mets for the worst overall record in the majors.
Despite possessing a high-profile roster built to compete for championships, the squad has consistently underperformed during the opening month of the campaign.
This severe slump ultimately forced the front office to make a decisive change in leadership to salvage their season.
Mattingly steps into the dugout
Mattingly brings significant managerial experience to a clubhouse that is desperately searching for a catalyst to turn their fortunes around.
The interim boss faces an immediate challenge to rectify the glaring issues that have plagued the roster over their first 28 games.
The initial news of the managerial change was first reported by The Athletic before being widely confirmed across US media networks.
