Chris Anderson has stood down as coach of NRL club the Sydney Roosters.

The Roosters' website confirmed Anderson's departure late Monday, with club legend Brad Fittler to take over in a caretaker role effective immediately.

Anderson has had a torrid time since taking over the glamour club, the Roosters winning just five of their 16 games this year.

The last straw for the former Bulldogs great appeared to be the 56-0 thrashing at the hands of Manly on the weekend.

The Daily Telegraph website reported that Anderson rang Roosters boss Nick Politis, who is in Europe on business, to tell him of his resignation.

An unnamed club official was quoted by the website saying Anderson's decision was effective immediately.

"Chris has thought about his future for the last 48 hours and decided to stand down," the official said.

"There was no pressure from management. It was all his decision.

"He was signed until the end of next season but just decided he had had enough."

Anderson's replacement, Fittler, played 217 games for the Roosters in nine seasons from 1996 and captained the club to the premiership in 2002, their first since 1975.

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