Tigana walks out of Fulham's soap opera

The extraordinary soap opera at Fulham took another twist last night when Jean Tigana walked out on the club just as it is free-falling towards the relegation zone.

The French manager took the decision after a meeting yesterday morning with the directors at which some of the terms and details of his scheduled departure, due at the end of the season, were to be discussed. His assistant, Christian Damiano, will also leave with immediate effect, despite attempts last night to persuade him to carry on. He has already stated he will follow Tigana in whatever decision he takes. The fitness expert Roger Propos has also left.

The first-team coach, Chris Coleman, who was only promoted to working with the senior players at the end of last year, has been appointed caretaker manager. He will be in charge for the final five games of the season, starting with tomorrow's crucial Premiership match against Newcastle United.

Tigana was informed last month by the club's chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed, that an option to extend his £2m-a-year contract would not be taken up. The two men had agreed that Tigana would stay on until the end of the season and the former French international had stated his determination to continue until then.

However, after the embarrassing 4-0 home defeat by Blackburn Rovers, Tigana held a crisis meeting with his players to try to improve morale. This was followed by a lacklustre defeat against Liverpool which has left Fulham just six points clear of relegation and in dire form.

Tigana now felt that his presence was hampering the team, particularly as several members, most notably Fulham's strong French contingent, were angry at how he has been treated and are pondering their own future. Steed Malbranque, the club's best player this season, has already said that he has been deeply affected while Alain Goma has denounced Fulham as a "shambles". Others such as Louis Saha, Steve Marlet, Martin Djétou and Sylvain Legwinski are also said to be unhappy.

In a statement on its official website, Fulham said: "Since the announcement that Jean's contract would not be renewed next season, the club has suffered a number of significant defeats and it has been decided that a change in management is necessary to enable the players' to focus their attentions on the task ahead and to secure the club's safety in the Premiership, by achieving the maximum number of points possible from the remaining games."

The statement added: "Although Jean and his team were firmly committed to keeping the club at the highest level, it became clear that the announcement of his departure had caused a feeling of unrest within the squad. It was important that the team spirit was restored as quickly as possible and the club believes that Chris Coleman is the man best equipped to do this in the short term."

The former club captain Coleman – who is popular in the dressing-room and only retired last year following his failure to recover fitness after a serious car crash – will be assisted by Steve Kean, the reserve-team coach and Academy director.

However, Coleman has already admitted that he is far too inexperienced for the post and has not put himself forward to take it permanently. He said: "The events of the last few months have been difficult, but we have to put them behind us and remain fully committed to the future of the club."

Tigana's sudden departure is a severe blow and raises questions over the club's handling of the management position. Some observers thought it strange that, having delayed contract talks, and said that nothing would be decided until the season's end, Fulham suddenly announced last month that Tigana would not be staying.

Relations between Tigana and Fayed have been strained for some time. However, Tigana won promotion, established the club in the Premiership, reached an FA Cup semi-final and took Fulham into Europe for the first time.

It is not thought the decision to bring forward his departure will affect a loyalty bonus Tigana would be due if he fulfilled his contract. Last night Fayed, now a tax exile in Switzerland, said: "It has been a difficult time for us over recent months and the season has not ended the way that I would have liked."

Fulham have already drawn up a shortlist to replace Tigana, but none of the candidates is available now. Louis van Gaal is due for talks, while the club's former manager Micky Adams, now at Leicester City, and Paul Hart, of Nottingham Forest, are committed to their own clubs at present. Other names discussed include George Burley, the caretaker manager at Derby County, and Alan Pardew of Reading.