Villas-Boas fired by Chelsea after 8 months

LONDON - Andre Villas-Boas was fired by Chelsea after barely eight months in charge of the Premier League club on Sunday, leaving owner Roman Abramovich searching for his eighth manager in nine years.

The Russian oligarch lost patience with the 34-year-old Villas-Boas after a 1-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday left the club fifth in the league and out of the lucrative Champions League qualification places.

“Andre Villas-Boas has parted company with Chelsea,’’ the club said in a statement. “The board would like to record our gratitude for his work and express our disappointment that the relationship has ended so early.”

First team coach Roberto Di Matteo, a former Chelsea player and West Bromwich Albion manager, will take charge of the Blues until the end of the season.