Bottom club Sunderland sacked Mick McCarthy as manager of the Premier League side yesterday and apologised to their fans for the team's poor results.

McCarthy, who had been in the job for three years, was dismissed at a meeting yesterday, having watched his promoted team slump to their 22nd defeat of the season in Sunday's 2-1 loss at Manchester City.

McCarthy would not discuss his sacking but told Sky Sports News as he left the team's training ground: "It's been tough here this last few months, but it's been brilliant.

"I've enjoyed every single minute of it, it's been a pleasure, I've been very fortunate.

"I've done my best and I can't do any more. I'll move on and eventually do something else."

Former team captain and academy coach Kevin Ball was appointed caretaker manager for the remaining 10 matches of a season in which Sunderland have won only twice and taken 10 points from their 28 league games.

McCarthy took over in March 2003, when the club were already mired in a relegation dogfight and was unable to save them.

They won promotion as second division champions last season but the 47-year-old, who coached Ireland at the 2002 World Cup, has failed to get results this term.

He branded one display as "gutless", "disgraceful" and "an embarrassment" after a November home loss to fellow relegation strugglers Birmingham City.