The San Francisco 49ers fired coach Mike Nolan yesterday, seven games into his fourth consecutive dismal season with the club, according to www.FOXsports.com.

Assistant head coach Mike Singletary is expected to take over the 49ers (2-5), who got off to a 2-1 start this season before four consecutive losses culminating in Sunday's 29-17 loss to the New York Giants.

Instead of delaying the decision until the 49ers' bye week following Sunday's home game against Seattle, owner John York apparently didn't wait to get rid of his choice to revive the five-time Super Bowl champions, who have endured five consecutive losing seasons and haven't made the playoffs since 2002.

Nolan, who hadn't been fired when he conducted his usual Monday news conference, informed www.FOXSports.com of his dismissal. He didn't immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press, and several team executives and coaches didn't return phone messages and e-mails last night.

Nolan is 18-37 in 3 1/2 seasons with the 49ers, who hired the veteran defensive coordinator to run every aspect of the club in January 2005.

Nolan is in the fourth season of a five-year, $8 million contract.

The 49ers fielded the NFL's worst offense during two of Nolan's first three seasons, including last year.