Fortune give Cookie the chop in China

CHRIS Coleman has been sacked by Hebei China Fortune just days after disgruntled fans unfurled a banner calling for the former Welsh manager to be fired.

Coleman only took over the Chinese Super League club 11 months ago after Manuel Pellegrini left to join West Ham.

But this season Hebei are one place off the bottom of the table with only one win and two draws in their opening nine games of the season.

As they lost 3-2 at home to midtable Henan Jianye on Saturday, disaffected fans held up a banner which read: “Hello Mr. Coleman, please go home! You’re fired!!!” and in Chinese said: “Coleman, your mum wants you home for dinner.”

And it appears the supporters have got their wish after the club confirmed Coleman’s departure in a social media post.

It stated: “After friendly negotiation and agreement reached between the two parties, with immediate effect, Mr Chris Coleman will no longer serve as head coach.”

Coleman, who guided Wales to the semi-finals of the European Championships in 2016, took over at Hebei last June following his dismissal by Sunderland.

The club finished sixth last term but six defeats, two draws, and one loss from their opening nine matches leaves them battling relegation.

The manager’s wife – Charlotte – took to social media after the announcement and revealed they had hoped to depart the club prior to the season after losing a raft of players, but a move away was blocked.

In total, Hebei won just seven of 30 games under the Welshman, who has been replaced on an interim basis by caretaker coach Xie Feng.

Xie will oversee the team’s next fixture on Sunday against Tianjin Teda.