The Football League’s bottom side Carlisle United have sacked boss Mike Williamson after their 5-1 home defeat by Swindon.

The Cumbrians are five points adrift of safety at the foot of the League Two table.

Williamson left his position as MK Dons boss to take over from Paul Simpson in September.

However, he won just five of his 25 games in charge in all competitions and leaves the club in danger of falling to a second successive relegation.

The 41-year-old had totally overhauled the squad in the past month with 11 new additions but has now been relieved of his duties on the final day of the transfer window.

It has been a dismal campaign for the Brunton Park side, who finished bottom of League One last season.

They kept faith with boss Simpson, who had guided them to promotion from League One in 2022-23, after relegation but sacked him on 21 August after three defeats in their first four league games.

Former Newcastle defender Williamson came in three weeks later and claimed a victory in his first game with a 2-0 success at Swindon.

That result lifted them out of the relegation zone but they fell to the bottom of the league after being hammered 4-0 by AFC Wimbledon on 12 October and have not left the relegation zone since.

The 2-1 win at Fleetwood on 25 January was a second win in five matches but defeats at Notts County and then Saturday’s capitulation against Swindon proved to be the end for the ex-Gateshead boss.

Carlisle, who have used more players than anyone else in the EFL so far this season with 41, visit Grimsby on Saturday.