CHICAGO -- Interim manager Bruce Kimm was fired by the Chicago Cubs on Sunday before their final game of the season.

	“	We didn't perform. We got two managers fired. ”
		— Cubs catcher Joe Girardi

"I'm disappointed yet I know I went about it in a professional way," Kimm said before managing the Cubs in their season finale.

Kimm replaced Don Baylor on July 6, managing the Cubs to a 32-45 record with one game left. Chicago won 9 of it first 13 games under Kimm but couldn't keep it up.

Informed before the game he would not be retained, Kimm stayed on to manage the regular-season finale against the Pirates, a game he knew would be emotional. The Cubs sent him out with a 7-3 win.

"I gave it my best. We tried to get it done. The circumstances didn't work out," Kimm said.

Cubs catcher Joe Girardi said it was the players who didn't do their jobs all season.

"We didn't perform. We got two managers fired. I feel for Don and I feel for Bruce," Girardi said.

The 51-year-old Kimm, a former major league catcher, began the season as the manager of the Cubs' Triple-A team. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Kimm has been offered the chance to return to the Triple-A team.

Kimm said he wasn't sure what he'd do, but he didn't know if he wanted to put up with the travel again in the minors.

Hendry said the Cubs' search could include managers or coaches who will be in the playoffs. He said there was no timetable. Counting Kimm, the new manager will be the Cubs' third since Jim Riggleman was fired after the 1999 season.

"It's a tough situation when you take over a major league ball club in the middle of the season," said Hendry, who informed Kimm on Sunday morning that he wouldn't be retained. "Bruce gave it his best shot and it didn't work out as we hoped."

Heading into Sunday's finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago was 66-95, putting it fifth in the NL Central, 30 games behind division winner St. Louis.

Kimm on Sunday refused to criticize his players. He admitted he would do some things differently if he could start over, but wouldn't elaborate.

Earlier this month, he unleashed an expletive filled-tirade after a lackluster performance in St. Louis that was short on effort. Earlier, he was unhappy when an unidentified Cubs player went to sleep in the clubhouse during a game.

Hendry said the only coach assured of being with the new manger is pitching coach Larry Rothschild, who is finishing up his first season.