Coventry sack Dowie
Gone: Iain Dowie has been sacked by Coventry
Chairman Ray Ranson, who took over at the club in December, wielded the axe after Coventry's 1-0 defeat at Preston on Saturday left the Sky Blues 19th in the Championship just four points from the relegation zone.
The decision comes as a surprise after Ranson allowed Dowie to spend in the region of £1 million in the transfer window on promising Walsall youngsters Dan Fox and Scott Dann.
The former Northern Ireland international, 43, took over at the Ricoh in February 2007 and won 20 of his 49 games in charge, drawing eight and the club finished 17th last season.
He had been out of work since his departure in November 2006 from Charlton where he lasted just six months after a poor start to the Premier League season.
Assistant manager Tim Flowers and Iain's brother Bob Dowie, who is a member of the backroom staff, have also left the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry's official website said that Frankie Bunn and John Harbin will take charge of the Sky Blues' first-team affairs for tomorrow night's game against Cardiff City.
