The banner was unfurled towards the end of the game on Saturday at the Langfang Stadium, with big black letters on a white sheet. Chris Coleman, who cut a distant, lonely figure on the sidelines, barely noticed it. "Hello Mr. Coleman," the message read, "Please Go Home! You're Fired!!!" As the disgruntled fans held it aloft, they let loose a volley of boos and called for his head.

Hebei China Fortune had just slumped to a 3-2 home defeat at fellow strugglers Henan Jianye, languishing one place off the bottom of the league table on goal difference. Nine games into the new Chinese Super League season, Coleman's side have won only once, leaving supporters furious at what is happening to their ambitious club.

Seventy-two hours after the devastating loss, the axe finally fell on the Welshman as fans were granted their wish on Wednesday when Hebei China Fortune confirmed Coleman's departure. 

There is no hiding from this fiasco, but the former Wales and Sunderland manager was not solely responsible for the malaise that has gripped Hebei during their worst start to a CSL season. The failure to placate the players amid rumors that the club owners could pull back on their funding ensured the club's hierarchy is tainted by Coleman's sacking.

Not that there is much sympathy for Coleman among the home support. The 48-year-old has not endeared himself to the Hebei faithful with his frequent changes in personnel and formation resulting in only a deteriorating performance on the pitch.

His team lacked a footballing philosophy and offered little threat, pace or balance. There's no depth in the striking department, with their players excruciatingly wasteful from chances where they would be reasonably expected to score. And all of this is further compounded by the injury absence of former Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain star Ezequiel Lavezzi, whose attacking quality and composure on the ball are a cut above his teammates and have been instrumental for Hebei's late surge last season.

Coleman cannot be surprised that his obituary now follows, given Hebei's record of being trigger-happy when it comes to sacking world renowned managers. Former Real Madrid and Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini was ruthlessly axed in June last year with the club sitting ninth on the table. Coleman was then brought in as the Chilean's replacement. Yet, after 10 months in charge, he earned himself an unwanted record by becoming the first head coach to be shown the door this CSL season.

For all the doom and gloom, the breakup could be a blessing in disguise. Pellegrini made a swift return to the Premier League right after his axing by Hebei and guided West Ham United to a respectable 11th place this season. Coleman might follow the same path and who knows what the future holds for the man who famously took Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016?

As for Hebei China Fortune, the struggling side have now turned to a familiar face as the 53-year-old Xie Feng, whose caretaker stint spanned from Shenzhen FC to Beijing Guoan, was put in temporary charge. The club could anticipate an upturn in results as they received a timely boost with their talisman Lavezzi aiming to return to action next week.

Alas, the Argentinian star's comeback proved too late for Coleman. Perhaps the Welshman and Hebei were never a right fit.