The Sack Race

Chris Hutchings yesterday became the latest in a rapidly growing list of Premiership managers to lose his job, as Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan sacked him after 6 successive defeats in the league. After a tentative start the managerial merry-go-round is now up to breakneck speed. So far 4 have gone, Jose Mourinho, Martin Jol, Sammy Lee and now Hutchings. This figure could soon rise to 5 or 6 though if the disgruntled murmurings are to be believed at Newcastle Utd and Middlesbrough. Graeme Souness has been touted as the current front runner to succeed Hutchings at Wigan, followed by Stuart Pearce and surprisingly ex-Wigan boss Paul Jewell.

Wigan started the season well but the frailty of the squad was exposed when Emile Heskey got injured and Hutchings could not replace the firepower of the resurgent forward. Influential midfielder Antonio Valencia has also been unavailable for much of the season and the club’s failure to score goals probably sealed his fate. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan deemed 6 losses in a row unacceptable. Even at this stage of the season relegation worries were beginning to emerge and fresh impetus was needed. It is difficult not to feel sorry for Hutchings. Never the most glamorous choice of manager, he was a hard worker and installed this ethic into his team, although he never enjoyed the reassurance of the fans full affection. Most people in Wigan were disappointed about Paul Jewell’s departure and their appreciation for what he did at the club is still present and he is the fans choice for a return to the JJB. It would be a strange turn around though for Jewell to take up the reigns again after not long ago citing that he had become disillusioned with life and wanted a break.

The Suitors
The Guardian believes Graeme Souness leads the candidates for the Wigan job but, like Bolton last month, the fact he is a well known personality and has been out of the game for several months, seemingly defaults his presence in managerial shortlists. Some believe Souness is holding out for the Republic of Ireland job. Stuart Pearce is also a perennial contender in these lists. The media believe the England U21 job is not enough for him and that he is using it as a stepping stone as he waits for a good offer. This is despite there being no indication, verbally or otherwise from Pearce that he is not content with his current role.

More heads will roll
If Pearce is waiting for the right job to appear there may be a few options available to him in the near future. Following Newcastle Utd’s 4-1 thrashing at home by Portsmouth there are rumours Sam Allardyce’s position has become precarious. This is a job Pearce, a former Newcastle player, would surely relish although his managerial record would not make him favourite. Newcastle have rubbished the speculation, Magpie’s chairman Chris Mort said, ‘This kind of story does not merit a response; it is ludicrous’. For now this is the board’s standing but they and the fans will not tolerate too many defensive performances like Saturday’s from the hapless Cacapa and co.

Meanwhile Gareth Southgate is walking a proverbial tightrope at Middlesbrough. A creditable draw against Juande Ramos’ Spurs, thanks to a Luke Young wonder goal may have kept him his job for a little while longer. Before that game Boro had lost 5 on the spin and they are struggling this season just a point above the relegation zone. Boro look lightweight upfront following the summer sales of Yakubu and Mark Viduka. Sanli Tuncay has taken a while to settle and Jeremie Aliadiere and Mido have lacked the quality of their predecessors. Boro are enduring the dangerous situation of playing good, attractive football but not getting results. Southgate will not change his tactics though, ‘the beliefs I have mean that the manner on which we play has to stay.’ William Hill has Southgate at 7-2 to go.

Whoever gets the Wigan job will face a difficult task this season, both in keeping the club in the division and holding onto their job. But who will go next? Derby’s Billy Davies, the hide-away Steve Bruce at Birmingham? Now that the sack race has really got going, expect more casualties to fall as Premiership chairmen become increasingly nervous about maintaining league status and meeting fan expectations. For many it will be merely a case of when and who.