Oldham manager Frankie Bunn was sacked by the club via email.
The League Two outfit announced the departure of their former player on Thursday after Boxing Day’s 6-0 drubbing at Carlisle United.
Sportsmail understands that Bunn, who scored six goals in one match and played at Wembley for Oldham, learned his fate when he opened an email from the club.
Oldham have also dispensed with the services of two other members of staff, thought to be the first-team coach Max Wragg and an administrator.
Bunn, 56, took over in the summer following the sacking of Richie Wellens.
His number two, Andy Rhodes, was dismissed in late October.
Under Bunn, Oldham won eight, drew eight and lost eight of their matches to leave them in 12th position, seven points off the play-off places and 12 points clear of the relegation zone following a turbulent summer which saw a vast turnover of players and a number of staff members shown the door.
Prior to Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Exeter City, they were unbeaten in six matches and had progressed to the Third Round of the FA Cup where they will face Fulham at Craven Cottage next month.
Oldham, founder members of the Premier League, are owned by Dubai-based Moroccan former agent Abdallah Lemsagam, who completed a protracted takeover in January.
Since Lemsagam’s arrival, they have suffered relegation to become part of the fourth tier for the first time since 1971 and are now seeking a third manager.
Wages have been paid late on more than one occasion. Bunn, a striker, hit six as Oldham beat Scarborough 7-0 in a League Cup tie during a run which would take them to Wembley in 1990.
An insider said: ‘Frankie was given a pretty much impossible task and the way he was treated just about sums up the club at the moment. It is a circus.
'Given all the staff who have left – and with January around the corner – people are genuinely wondering if there is anyone left who actually knows how to sign a player and do the paperwork. It really is as bad as that.’
Academy coach Pete Wild has been placed in temporary charge. Oldham say they will look to appoint a permanent manager ‘as soon as possible’. They declined to comment further.