Forest Green Rovers head coach Mark Cooper has parted ways with the club after four back-to-back losses.

He has been in charge of the team since the 2016/17 season and Forest Green are currently sixth in Sky Bet League Two.

Under-18s Manager Jimmy Ball will be interim Head Coach of the first-team until the end of the season.

Talking to the BBC about the decision, club chairman Dale Vince said: “I’ve been working with Mark for five years and I’ve really enjoyed it. I like working with him. I think we’ve learnt things together as a club, him as a coach, me as a chairman, and we’ve come a long way.

“Promoted into the EFL, that’s historic for us as a club and to the EFL. We’re the smallest club to have been able to pull that off. It’s been a great contribution in five years. Mark will always be a friend and always be welcome and Forest Green and I do thank him sincerely for what he’s done.”

Mr Cooper led Forest Green into League Two after a victory against Tranmere Rovers in the 2016/17 National League play-offs, but of their last six games, Forest Green have lost five and drawn one.

“Really it’s about the circumstances we find ourselves in with six games to go we’ve had a big slide in form – four back to back losses now,” said Dale on BBC Gloucestershire.

“The toughest job in coaching, in management, is to turn around a bad run of form.

"It’s the biggest test, the biggest challenge where perhaps the greatest value lies and to do that you’ve got to understand what’s wrong, where you’re going wrong, but sometimes you just have to start again.”