Matt Williams has been sacked as Scotland's national rugby coach. The much-anticipated move was finally announced on Monday afternoon, following weeks of speculation about his future.
Forwards coach Willie Anderson and the national coaching coordinator Brett Igoe have also been sacked.
Scotland won just three Test matches - against Samoa, Japan and Italy - out of 17 under Williams' stewardship in just over two years.
The victory over Italy this season was Williams' and Scotland's only one in the last two Six Nations campaigns.
A statement released by the Scottish Rugby Union said the contracts of the trio had "been terminated with immediate effect".
The statement added that interim arrangements regarding coaching staff for the upcoming matches against the Barbarians and Romania would be announced shortly.
BBC Scotland revealed after the Six Nations championship that Williams would be sacked before this year's autumn Tests.
A series of meetings were held in recent weeks to discuss the national team's performances under Williams and his future.
The outcome of those meetings was no surprise when it was finally announced on Monday.
Williams had grand plans for the national team when he took over from Ian McGeechan after the 2003 World Cup.
He wanted the squad for the next World Cup in 2007 to be made up solely of players playing for the Scottish pro teams - an initiative he termed "Fortress Scotland".
McGeechan, instrumental in Williams' appointment, confirmed last week he was leaving his post as the SRU's director of rugby to take a similar post at English side Wasps.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Finally a very bold and assured decision quickly made by the SRU
