FOOTBALL
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Fernhill have sacked coach Julio Miranda after the Foxes' lacklustre start to the season.
They sit bottom of the Premier League, without a win from their opening 13 matches.
In danger of relegation, the Foxes have just four competition points, three behind 11th-placed Bellambi.
The pair look set to fight it out at the foot of the competition, with Bellambi a further seven points adrift of 10th-placed Cringila.
But Fernhill will now have to survive without the services of Miranda.
Miranda, who took charge of the Foxes at the beginning of last season, has been replaced by experienced Premier League coach John Fleming.
"The club has decided to take another direction to try and get us out of the position we are in," Foxes' president Craig Armour said.
"John Fleming is going to take over for the rest of the year.
"It is unfortunate circumstances that the club has had to go down this track but we had to try something.
"It comes on the back of not winning any games at the moment and we have to get in front of Bellambi."
Fernhill drew 4-4 with the Rosellas on Sunday but were down 4-1 early in the second half before staging their spirited fightback.
Miranda had been confident of getting the Foxes out of relegation trouble but was given the news late Sunday evening that his services would no longer be required.
"He was disappointed like any coach would be," Armour said.
"He thought he could get the best out of the boys to get us out of the position we were in but the club thought it best to go in another direction."
Fleming will take over immediately, in time for the Foxes' clash with Wollongong United at Ray Robinson Field on Saturday.
"John's an astute senior coach who has been around various Premier League clubs previously. Perhaps his experience can get us through," Armour said.
"He was available and was happy to help the club out.
"He committed to the end of the season.
"Hopefully he will help us get out of where we are and try and regroup at the end of the year so we can stay in Premier League."
Fleming will have nine matches to lift the Foxes to safety.
Cringila Lions met coach Lupco Dafkoski on Monday night after the club was handed a 6-0 drubbing by Albion Park White Eagles on Saturday.