Kosta Papic has paid the price for runaway leaders, Hearts of Oak's recent poor run in the league by being given the sack.

The dismissal of the coach whop appears to have been on track to guiding the Phobians to their 20th league title comes a day after the leaders lost 1-0 to a King Faisal side reduced to nine men.

Hearts have seen their 14 point lead at the start of the second round of the Glo Premier League whittled down to five with seven matches to end the season.

The Phobians have lost their last three matches as the season nears the final stages.

Papic joined the Phobians at the beginning of the season and has transformed a side that performed woeful in the past season which they finished 7th into title contenders this season.

Assistant coach and former Ghana international Samuel Johnson is expected to take over in an acting capacity.

Johnson's first game in charge would be at the Ohene Djan Stadium on Sunday where the Phobians play Real Tamale United.