Preston have announced that manager Phil Brown has left the club with immediate effect.

PA PhotosPhil Brown has been dismissed as Preston boss

Brown joined Preston in January 2011 and failed to keep them in the Championship.

The club hoped they would be returning at the first possible attempt but are currently languishing in tenth in League One, five points from the play-offs, having only won one of their previous 11 outings.

Brown's assistant Brian Horton has also left the club with Graham Alexander and David Unsworth being put in temporary charge.

Brown becomes the 11th Football League manager to lose his job this season.