PHILADELPHIA (AP) Randy Ayers was fired by the struggling Philadelphia 76ers during his first season as their coach, two team sources told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Assistant Chris Ford will be promoted, according to one of the sources, who both spoke on condition of anonymity.

The 76ers announced they would have a news conference Tuesday afternoon, but they did not say why.

Philadelphia went 21-31 under Ayers and is 1{ games behind the Boston Celtics for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

All but one of the 15 Eastern Conference teams have changed coaches since the end of last season _ and now the 76ers have done it twice in that span.

Ayers took over after the resignation of Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, who is now with the Detroit Pistons.

Ayers seemingly lost control of the team. In recent weeks, All-Star guard Allen Iverson ripped his teammates for lacking heart and said changes had to be made.

Ford joined the Sixers' coaching staff last summer after two seasons as the head coach at Brandeis University. He led the Boston Celtics to consecutive Atlantic Division titles in 1991 and 1992, and he also coached the Bucks and Clippers.

Ford compiled a record of 311-358 in nine seasons as head coach with Boston (1990-95), Milwaukee (1996-98) and the Clippers (1998-2000). His best season was his first, when the Celtics went 56-26 and reached the second round of the playoffs.

Ford won NBA championships with the Celtics as a player (1981) and an assistant coach (1984, 1986).