Wigan have announced they have parted company with manager Malky Mackay in a statement on their website.
The move came shortly after Wigan lost 2-0 at home to Derby County, leaving the relegation-threatened Latics eight points from safety with only five games to play.
Mackay joined Wigan in November after Uwe Rosler was sacked, and although the former Cardiff manager improved the team's away form, he failed to win a single home game in his time in charge.
Chairman David Sharpe, who only replaced his grandad Dave Whelan in the role last month, told the club's official website: "This was a very difficult decision to make but I feel that for the long-term future of the club, there needs to be change now."
Mackay was announced as Rosler's replacement in November despite still being part of a Football Association investigation into claims he sent text messages which were of a homophobic, racist and sexist nature during his time with the Bluebirds.
The furore only intensified when Whelan landed himself in hot water trying to defend the decision, telling the Guardian it was ''nothing'' to use certain slurs. The FA banned Whelan for six weeks over those comments and he eventually stepped down as chairman in March, handing the reins to 23-year-old Sharpe, who has now made the first big decision of his tenure.
Mackay, whose FA probe remains ongoing, has been unable to transform Latics' fortunes on the pitch this season after taking just 19 points from the possible 72 on offer.
Information from Press Association was used in this report.