Relegation-threatened Leicester fired Manager Brendan Rodgers on Sunday in a late-season bid to preserve their Premier League status after the team’s sharp decline.

Leicester’s leadership took the decision with a heavy heart, hailing Rodgers as “one of the most successful managers in the club’s history” while — in the same statement announcing his departure — saying it was a necessary move if the team was to stay in England’s lucrative top division.

Rodgers has been in charge for four years and led Leicester to their first FA Cup title in 2021 as well as back-to-back Europa League qualifications.

Such has been the drop off this season that Rodgers leaves with Leicester having plunged to third-to-last place with 10 matches remaining after losing five of their last six league games.

“It had been our belief that continuity and stability would be key to correcting our course, particularly given our previous achievements under Brendan’s management,” Leicester Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said.

“Regrettably, the desired improvement has not been forthcoming and, with 10 games of the season remaining, the board is compelled to take alternative action to protect our Premier League status.”

Rodgers, who previously managed Liverpool and Celtic, was hired in February 2019 to replace Claude Puel with Leicester’s ownership, hoping he could get the team challenging the heavyweights of the league again — like they famously did in winning the 2015-2016 title despite preseason odds of 5,000-1.

Only two teams have conceded more goals than Leicester (49) in the league.

— AP