MIAMI (Ticker) -- After four disappointing seasons, Terry Francona has managed his final game for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Francona and coaches Chuck Cottier, Galen Cisco, Hal McRae and Brad Mills were relieved of their duties, effective at the end of today's season finale at Florida.

"This has been a tremendously difficult time for all of us," general manager Ed Wade said. "Those difficulties are compounded when you have to let good baseball people and good friends go.

"Terry and his staff have been unfailingly loyal to the Phillies. I just wish that the results on the field had reflected the amount of effort they put into making us the best club we could be."

The Phillies have lost 10 of their last 13 games. With 96 losses, they are wrapping up their worst season since going 59-97 in 1972.

"I'll be a little emotional, I'm sure, because there's a lot of people I care a lot about," Francona told One-on-One Sports Radio this morning. "But as far as ill feelings, not really. I feel bad for the players that we didn't do better."

According to WCAU-TV, former Phillies catchers Bob Boone and Darren Daulton are the leading candidates to succeed Francona.

Francona, 41, is completing his fourth season as Phils' manager and owns a record of 279-363. He was hired during the fall of 1996 and received a two-year contract extension in September 1999.

But this season started poorly with ace Curt Schilling out for most of the first month following offseason surgery. When he returned, the Phils were 7-16. Philadelphia made it to the All-Star break at 39-47, but lost 24 of its next 35 games and dealt Schilling and pitcher Andy Ashby before the trade deadline.

"Terry did not deserve the criticism that has been leveled upon him personally, nor does anyone deserve the scrutiny that he has been under since the early stages of the season," Wade said. "He became the lightning rod of the criticism and blame that should be shared by all of us."

The trades signaled the team was headed in a different direction and likely would dismiss Francona at the end of the season.

"We'll be able to speak with some people right away," Wade said. "Others will require permission from other clubs before we can interview them. And there may be candidates who are involved in postseason play."

Francona played 10 seasons in the major leagues as an outfielder-first baseman and batted .274. He also managed basketball star Michael Jordan at Class AA Birmingham in 1994.