QPR have sacked head coach Gareth Ainsworth with the Championship club six points from safety.

A 2-1 home defeat against leaders Leicester City was their sixth loss in a row and left Rangers without a win in nine league matches.

Ainsworth, 50, was appointed in February after 11 years in charge at Wycombe Wanderers, but won only five of his 28 games in charge of the Loftus Road club.

Despite losing six of his first seven matches in charge, Ainsworth led QPR to survival last season.

But they have now gone 11 home games without a win - losing nine - and have netted only four times on their own turf this season. 

Assistant manager Richard Dobson also leaves with Rangers sitting in 22nd place with eight points from 14 games.

"Making a call such as this is never easy and it is even more difficult when you have such respect on both a personal and professional level for the individuals concerned - which we all do for Gareth and Richard," said chief executive Lee Hoos. 

"Many supporters have told me in recent months that they have never wanted someone to succeed more than Gareth, which is an indication of the fondness everyone associated with QPR has for him.

"Unfortunately, results this season haven't gone the way we all wanted and we feel a change is necessary."

A new head coach will be appointed 'in the coming days' added Hoos, with a trip to fellow strugglers Rotherham up next.