Peterborough United have sacked manager Luke Williams following Saturday's defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers, a result that left the club second from bottom in League One after just seven games of the season.

Another early-season collapse

The loss was Peterborough's third in a five-game winless run in the third tier. That sequence has dragged them to within a single point of bottom club Wigan Athletic, and the Posh board decided it could not wait any longer.

Williams lasted less than 11 months in the job. He was appointed in October 2025, replacing Darren Ferguson — who had been in his fourth spell as manager — when the club were themselves bottom of the table. The 45-year-old steadied the ship enough to finish 18th last term, but a near-identical start this season has cost him.

The former Swansea City and Notts County boss oversaw just one league win from his seven games this campaign. One win from seven represents a return that left the club with little option but to act, particularly given the proximity to the relegation zone and the pressure that will only build with each passing fixture.

Cup run offered little cover

Williams did guide Peterborough into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 2009, following a 7-6 penalty shootout win against Barnsley in a match that had finished 3-3. Cup progress, however, could not compensate for a league form that has alarmed supporters and the board alike.

The League One picture is stark. Peterborough have dropped into the bottom four on the back of a run that has offered almost nothing going forward and too little resistance at the back. The defeat to Doncaster, a side managed by Grant McCann and themselves under pressure this season, proved the final straw.

What next for the Posh?

Peterborough now face an urgent search for their third manager in just over 12 months. The club will be acutely aware that the window to haul themselves clear of the relegation positions narrows with every week that passes without consistent points.

Whoever comes in will inherit a squad that showed some resilience in cup competition but has consistently failed to convert that into league performances. The new manager's first task will be to identify why the gap between cup effort and third-tier output has been so wide, and to close it fast.

  • Peterborough's League One record this season: one win, two draws, four defeats
  • Points total: five from a possible 21
  • Current position: second from bottom, one point above Wigan Athletic

For Doncaster, the win at London Road provides a welcome boost to McCann's side and continues what has been a mixed but occasionally promising start to their own campaign. The significance of the victory will not be lost on the Rovers supporters, who travel in hope to grounds like this and rarely leave with all three points.

Peterborough have confirmed the club is beginning the process of identifying a new head coach. No caretaker has been named at the time of writing. Updates are expected early next week.

Frequently asked

Why did Peterborough sack Luke Williams?
Peterborough dismissed Williams after a home defeat to Doncaster Rovers left them second from bottom in League One, with just one win from seven league games this season.
Who will replace Luke Williams as Peterborough manager?
No replacement has been announced yet. The club confirmed they are searching for a new head coach following Williams's departure.
How long was Luke Williams manager of Peterborough?
Williams was in charge for less than 11 months, having been appointed in October 2025 to replace Darren Ferguson.