Sheffield Wednesday part with boss Alan Irvine

Irvine began his managerial career with Preston

Sheffield Wednesday have parted company with manager Alan Irvine with the side lying 12th in League One.

Chairman Milan Mandaric held crisis talks on Wednesday following the club's 5-3 defeat at Peterborough.

Assistant manager Rob Kelly and coach Billy Barr will be in temporary charge until a replacement is found.

Irvine, 52, leaves after just 13 months in charge, with the Owls currently eight points off the play-offs and just five points clear of the bottom four.

The former Everton assistant signed a three-and-a-half year deal at Hillsborough in January 2010 after being sacked by Preston in December 2009.

It's a shame it hasn't worked out for him as we started the season really well but recent results haven't been good

Former Owls captain Darren Purse

However the former Crystal Palace midfielder failed to keep the side in the Championship, and Wednesday have struggled in their League One campaign so far this season.

Former Owls captain Darren Purse, who left the club by mutual consent two weeks ago to join Millwall, told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I'm gutted for Alan.

"I worked with him for a year and I have never known anyone who works as hard as him."

The 33-year-old added: "It's a shame it hasn't worked out for him as we started the season really well but recent results haven't been good.

"The squad doesn't just deserve to be in the promotion places in League One, it should be in the Championship."

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The Owls have failed to win in their last six league games and conceded 19 goals, but Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric had backed the under-fire manager last week.

Irvine had also made several recent moves during the January transfer window, bringing in Reda Johnson, Gary Madine, Mark Reynolds and Michael Morrison to bolster his squad.

The departure of Irvine follows Monday's 5-3 defeat by Peterborough, which saw Wednesday lose their grip on a 3-2 lead after Darren Potter was sent off.