49ers fire offensive coordinator Martz

File image of Mike Martz at The Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, November 10, 2002.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The San Francisco 49ers have fired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, the NFL team said on Tuesday.

"After an evaluation period, I felt it was best to go in a different direction," head coach Mike Singletary said in a statement.

"This was not an easy decision because I appreciate Mike Martz and I enjoyed working with him. He is a true professional, and I wish him the best in the future."

Singletary released Martz two days after being permanently installed as San Francisco's head coach.

He was appointed on an interim basis in October in place of the sacked Mike Nolan and guided the team to five wins in their last nine games for an overall record of 7-9.

The once-powerful 49ers, winners of five Super Bowl titles, have not recorded a winning season in the last six years.

Martz, a proponent of a wide-open passing attack who steered the St Louis Rams into the Super Bowl in 2001 as their head coach, left San Francisco on good terms.

"I had an outstanding conversation with Mike Singletary this afternoon," he said. "I believe he will be an outstanding head coach in the National Football League. I wish him nothing but the best.

"I am not what he is looking for offensively. I understand that. This is just a part of professional sports."

Martz was fired as offensive coordinator by the Detroit Lions in January, one week before being recruited by the 49ers.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)