IAN Ferguson has been sacked by Perth Glory, less than a year after taking the club to the A-League grand final.

Joeys coach and Football Federation Australia's assistant technical director Alistair Edwards will take over until the end of the season. Currently no plans have been discussed beyond April.



The Herald Sun understands that Ferguson was aware that he faced the sack after the 1-0 loss at Wellington, but owner Tony Sage's health issues bought him another week.



But Sage - who is due to have heart surgery this week - sacked Ferguson at a meeting this morning.



Glory sought FFA's approval to approach Edwards, a former Socceroo who played 93 games for Glory between 1998-2004.



Edwards will announce that former Glory midfielder and current youth team coach Gareth Naven is his assistant.



Ferguson, who took over from David Mitchell in October 2010, clearly knew his fate when facing the media after the 2-0 loss to Melbourne Heart.



He cut a forlorn figure and sent mixed messages to the media, citing budget cuts (Billy Mehmet and Bas van den Brink were recently released) as a reason for Glory's form slump.





"If Tony came and patted me on the shoulder tomorrow and said I was fired then there's nothing I can argue with," Ferguson said on Saturday.

Studs Up: Recap David Davutovic's chat



"But he's been great, he's stuck by me, he can see the football we've been playing. I don't think we deserve to be where we are.



"I'm big enough and ugly enough to know that my job is about results and Tony will make that decision on me.



"There is pressure here, it's a big club and there's a lot of demands but I'll keep going and never stop. I'm not going to quit.



"It was a five-year plan to take the club forward and I'm still committed to doing that. I've got another year left.



"The Mariners game is basically a Cup final for us, simple as that."



Glory officials were seen speaking to Edwards and WA state league coach Graham Normanton in recent weeks as the pressure began to grow on Ferguson.



Winless in eight games, Glory is stuck at the bottom of the table.



Originally published as Glory coach Ferguson axed