Martinez comes unstuck at the Toffees

UNDER-performing Premier League football club Everton have sacked manager Roberto Martinez, ending his three year stint at the helm.

The Goodison Park club are 12th in the league and were beaten 3-1 by newly-crowned champions Leicester on Saturday and went down 3-0 to Sunderland on Wednesday.

The Toffees only hopes of silverware this season were dashed when they went out of the FA Cup and League Cup, both at the semi-final stage.

In a statement, Everton club praised the Spaniard, 42, for his “utmost integrity and dignity”, describing him as a “great ambassador” who played a “key role” in developing young players.

It said Everton “would like to place on record their thanks for the dedication and commitment Roberto has shown during his three seasons”.

Everton have won only five league games at home all season and are guaranteed to finish with their lowest points tally at Goodison Park since the introduction of three points for a win in 1981.

Meanwhile , the club’s  annual awards event scheduled for Thursday evening – where protests against Martinez had been expected before his dismissal was announced – has been postponed.

Ex-Everton player and current under-21 coach David Unsworth and ex-boss Joe Royle, who also played for the Toffees for eight years, will take temporary charge for the final game of the season against Norwich City on Sunday.

Southampton boss, Dutchman Ronald Koeman, is the hot favourite to take the post left vacant by Martinez.