Peterborough United are searching for their eighth permanent manager in a decade following the dismissal of Luke Williams on Saturday, with the club second-bottom of League One and winless in five league games.

The numbers that sealed Williams' fate

The final straw came in a 2-0 home defeat by Doncaster Rovers, a side who had arrived at London Road without a win all season. For the second time this term, Peterborough failed to register a single shot on target across 90 minutes. BBC Radio Cambridgeshire commentator Chris Dowsett identified that statistic as the decisive factor for chairman Darragh MacAnthony.

"Posh didn't have a shot on target in 90 minutes and that's poor at home," Dowsett said. "The fact they were playing a team that hadn't won all season, and coupled with the fact that Posh played Stevenage at home a couple of weeks previously and also didn't have a shot on target then, it was the killer really. Two wins in 22 league games is a really poor record. It just felt like it had to be the end, unfortunately."

Those 22 league matches span the back end of last season and the start of this one, meaning the problems pre-date this campaign. Williams ultimately paid the price for a run that left Posh unable to sustain themselves in the upper half of the third tier.

Context behind the decline

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire analyst Peter Swan pointed to a telling moment earlier in the week. Rather than drawing confidence from Tuesday's EFL Cup win over Barnsley, Williams used his post-match comments to highlight flaws in his own team selection, and appeared to suggest he was picking a side he did not fully endorse. He then described Peterborough as being "managed by a consortium of people" in the build-up to the Doncaster fixture, a remark that suggested the relationship between manager and board had fractured beyond repair.

Williams also faced practical difficulties. Four of last season's more reliable performers, including Archie Collins and Tom Lees, left in the summer, and their replacements have not yet found consistent form. Injuries in defence compounded those problems, limiting Williams' ability to field a settled back line.

Who takes over?

Former Exeter City midfielder Ryan Harley, who served as Williams' assistant, has taken interim charge. Harley has no previous managerial experience and is not expected to be considered for the permanent role. He will be in the dugout for Saturday's League One trip to Stockport County, after which Peterborough have a two-week break from league action that gives the board space to conduct a thorough search.

According to Dowsett, one name is prominent among supporters. "The main one is Karl Robinson," he said. "He gets on well with Darragh MacAnthony and that's a big factor in the job. You have to be able to work with him to succeed." Dowsett added that the club might also look at someone currently working within an academy structure, and suggested a first-time manager cannot be ruled out.

Supporter Becky, speaking to the BBC, felt the change was overdue. "His heart didn't seem in the club anymore," she said. "I believe we need a more verbal manager."

MacAnthony's managerial record

The appointment will be a significant one. Swan noted that across MacAnthony's 20 years as chairman, the eight permanent managers he has appointed outside of Darren Ferguson have lasted an average of just nine months in the job. Finding someone who can build a working relationship with the chairman, stabilise a squad short on confidence, and move Peterborough away from the wrong end of the League One table represents a considerable challenge. The two-week international break, however, at least gives the club time to get the decision right.

Frequently asked

Why was Luke Williams sacked by Peterborough?
Williams was dismissed after a 2-0 home defeat by Doncaster Rovers left Peterborough second-bottom of League One. He won just two of his final 22 league matches, and the club twice failed to register a single shot on target in home games this season.
Who is in charge of Peterborough United now?
Ryan Harley, formerly Williams' assistant, has taken interim charge. He is not expected to be a candidate for the permanent role.
Who are the favourites to become the next Peterborough manager?
According to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Karl Robinson is the name most frequently mentioned by supporters and local media. The club may also consider someone from an academy background or a first-time manager.