Paul Merson was last night dismissed as manager of Walsall after a poor run of results and little indication, it seems, that imporovement was imminent.

The former Aston Villa and England international midfield player, who knew he was walking a tight-rope and seemed to be expecting the sack, took over at Bescot Stadium on April 16, 2004 but has endured 20 months of frustration.

Jeff Bonser, the Walsall chairman, confirmed at 9am this morning that Merson is no longer the manager of the club.

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There is no indication who will take over on a temporary basis and who is likely to be Merson's permanent replacement but David Kelly, now coaching at Sheffield United, is thought to be interested.

Bonser was said to be distraught last night, saying: "I am devastated - how on earth do you sack a mate?"

It appears that Merson's position had been untenable since Walsall's 5-0 defeat away to Brentford last Saturday, which left the club 19th in League One.

Merson moved to Walsall as a player in the summer of 2003 and scored two fine goals on his debut against West Bromwich Albion. Walsall won 4-1 that day but the decline has been steady ever since.

Walsall were relegated from the old First Division that season, just a few weeks after Merson took over as player-manager, and there have been few suggestions since that the club can reclaim their place in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Merson, ever the realist, made it clear that he would resign if Walsall lost to Scunthorpe United this Saturday. But Bonser has done Merson's dirty work for him. Under Merson, Walsall played 94 matches, won 32, and lost 39.

But while Merson, aged 37, seemed to be plotting his own downfall, he urged the Walsall supporters to back the team in a bid to avoid relegation to League Two.

"We have had five away games on the trot, so judge me at home," Merson had said. "We have Scunthorpe on Saturday and if we lose that I will go. The fans were singing 'Merson out'. Maybe they are right but I would say keep behind the team because if we lose I will go."

Bonser had previously echoed Merson's call for a positive response from the club's supporters.

"We've got a lot of genuine supporters who have, like me, supported the club for a long time," the chairman said. "I would ask them to really pull together now. "We all need to get behind Paul and the team. If they want to shout names, let them shout mine. Don't get at the players - they are doing their best.

"I'm still immensely supportive of Paul because I know how hard he works and how much he wants Walsall to succeed. I've seen how hurt he is when Walsall FC lose. We all need to pull together and salvage this season so that we can go forward again next year."

That support, however, was tenuous. Merson only had hours left of his tenure as manager of Walsall. And, as the club look for a replacement, Bonser will know that they are unlikely to find somebody with Merson's charisma.

One of the finest midfield players of his generation, Merson courted publicity for his personal problems. His battles against alcoholism and gambling made him a high-maintenance manager and yet he showed great character in admitting his problems and in dealing with them. He is respected throughout the game and one hopes that he will bounce back, refreshed after a rest and wiser.

There are few more distinguished players still actively competing professionally. Merson won the League Championship and FA Cup with Arsenal, became part of the finest Middlesbrough team of all time, then moved to Aston Villa for four seasons in 1998.

He won 21 caps but left Villa under a cloud in the summer of 2002. He gained promotion to the Premiership with Portsmouth in 2003 before joining Walsall.