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Luiz Felipe Scolari has told of his regrets after being sacked as Chelsea boss just seven months into the job.

Chelsea are seeking their fourth manager in 16 months after axing Scolari

He was dismissed with immediate effect, and a search is already underway for his replacement.

The Brazilian is the eighth Premier League manager to leave this season after Tony Adams was fired by Portsmouth earlier today.

Scolari said: "It was a very valuable experience. I am sorry that my time with everyone could not last longer.

"I wish Chelsea luck in the three competitions it is participating in. I want to take the opportunity to inform that I will keep living in London."

The club said in a statement: "Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.

"In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now."

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Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League, seven points behind Manchester United, after a disappointing 0-0 draw against Hull.

During Saturday's game, some fans chanted, "You don't know what you're doing!" when Scolari made substitutions, and the team was booed off at the end.

Sky News sports presenter Jon Desborough said: "This comes after the weekend when a lot of commentators pretty much ruled Arsenal and Chelsea out of the race for the title.

"He wasn't unpopular with the dressing room but the difficulty is that ever since Jose Mourinho left Chelsea, the team have never had a manager that they believed in."