Former Crawley Town manager Richie Barker leaves Portsmouth

Richie Barker has been sacked by Portsmouth after only 20 games.

The Yorkshireman has endured a torrid time since swapping the Broadfield for Fratton Park, winning just four of the 20 games he had taken charge of and lasting just 109 days in the job.

He had been come under intense fire from the Pompey fans, with some chanting for his dismissal during Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Rochdale which has left the club only two points above the League Two relegation places.

With the very real prospect of Portsmouth dropping out of the Football League the club’s Board have acted with seven league games left to save their season.

Barker, 38, guided Crawley to tenth place last year in the club’s first season in League One, but he had his contract terminated on November 27 of the current campaign, following seven games without a win, a spell which yielded just one goal.

He was appointed Portsmouth boss on December 9 with Steve Coppell also making the switch from Crawley to become director of football.

But Barker’s tenure at Fratton Park mirrored the end of his days at Crawley, Pompey scoring only 11 times and conceding 23 goals in his 20 matches in charge.

Pompey Academy boss Andy Awford is expected to be placed in temporary charge of the club for Saturday’s game.