Michael Laudrup was last night sacked as manager of Swansea City, with the Barclays Premier League club naming former captain Garry Monk as head coach alongside first-team coach Alan Curtis "for the foreseeable future".

There had been speculation about Laudrup's future following a defeat by West Ham United on Saturday, a result which left the Welsh team just two points above the relegation places. The Dane had flown to Paris in the aftermath of the defeat as the board announced plans to shake-up his backroom staff.

That has since led to the former Real Mallorca manager to be sacked from his post. "It is a decision we have taken reluctantly,'' said Huw Jenkins, the Swansea chairman. "It is the first time in nearly 10 years that the club has parted with a manager in this way."

The future of Scotland captain Darren Fletcher also became a little clearer last night after he was named in Manchester United's Champions League squad for the first time since an operation to treat ulcerative colitis. The midfielder is now able to face Olympiacos in the next round of the competition later this month.