Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka has sensationally quit the club.
The club, currently seventh in the Championship, confirmed on Friday morning that the Spaniard had asked to be released from his contract at the City Ground.
"Aitor Karanka has asked to be released from his contract as the manager of Nottingham Forest Football Club.
"The club have agreed to this request and the terms of departure have been agreed. Both parties wish each other every success for the future.
"There will be no further comment from either party.
"Simon Ireland will take charge of first-team affairs until a new manager is appointed."
Karanka, the former Middlesbrough boss, had been the subject of constant speculation in recent months, having been under pressure to lead Forest back to the Premier League for the first time in over 20 years.
The club's Greek owner, Evangelos Marinakis, backed his manager in the transfer market last summer, and is desperate for a top flight return.
But Forest have struggled to keep pace with the Championship's automatic promotion hopefuls, currently sitting 10 points off the top two - despite only suffering five defeats in 26 games.