Crewe have relieved manager Steve Holland of his first-team duties with immediate effect and placed former boss Dario Gradi in caretaker charge.
The Alex are bottom of Coca-Cola League One with just nine points from their 16 matches so far this season.
Holland is in talks with chairman John Bowler over his future role at the club.
In the meantime, former manager Gradi, who has been director of football at the club since ending his 24-year reign in 2007, has been appointed caretaker boss.
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