SWINDON Town have parted company with manager Phil Brown this evening.

The decision comes amid a disappointing start to the 2018-19 season, with Town down in 17th in the League Two table having picked up 21 points from 17 games.

Assistant manager Neil McDonald has also left the club.

A brief statement released by the club read: “Swindon Town Football Club can today confirm that they have relieved Phil Brown of his duties as First Team Manager.

“Assistant Manager, Neil McDonald will also be leaving the club with immediate effect.

Swindon Town FC would like to put on record its thanks for the efforts of Phil and Neil in their time at SN1, and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”

Brown led Swindon into the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday with a 2-1 win at home to non-league side York City.

However, that represented his final match in charge at the Energy Check County Ground, with club chairman Lee Power opting to relieve Brown of his duties alongside assistant McDonald.

Former Premier League manager Brown’s departure comes just six months after he signed a two-year deal to take over at the club back in May.

Saturday’s match against York was Brown’s 32nd as Town manager, with the 59-year-old having initially taken over on an interim basis for the final 10 games of last season.

He leaves with a record of 10 wins, 11 draws and 11 defeats during his tenure at the club.

Brown oversaw a 3-1 win at Cambridge United in his first match in charge back March 17, but an eight-match winless run followed and saw the club miss out on a place in the play-offs.

Although Town did beat champions Accrington Stanley on the final day of the season, they finished the campaign down in ninth in the table, seven points adrift of the top seven.

Brown signed a two-year contract to take over as manager on a full-time basis over the summer, but league form has remained below-par in the new campaign, with the team winning just five of their 17 league matches this term.

Chairman Power will now begin a search for a new manager, his sixth since taking full control of the club back in December 13.

Alongside Brown, Mark Cooper, Martin Ling, Luke Williams and David Flitcroft have all held the post in that time.