The role of Football Manager has quickly become the most
insecure job in the world, as of next season the term ‘contract’ should be
redefined as ‘pay-off package’. Even at
the seasons end, managerial casualties continue, Pepe Mel the latest to be
given his marching orders regardless to the fact he successfully retained West
Brom’s top-flight place.
David Moyes is just part-proof of the meaningless of a
contract after succeeding the almighty Alex Ferguson, seemingly the future of
Manchester United putting his signature on a six-year contract. The former Red
Devils boss left red-faced when he was relieved of his duties despite not even
completing a single season as boss.
The 2013-14 Premier League season produced 11 changes in the
hotspot, Ian Holloway at Crystal Palace being the single figure choosing the
exit door for himself. Sunderland began the firing, kicking out eccentric
Italian Paulo Di Canio following poor results and crazy antics which left the
board hugely unimpressed.
In no particular order; Mackay, Laudrup, Hughton, Jol, AVB,
Steve Clarke, Moyes, Renee Mulensteen and finally today, Pepe Mel completed the
list of the top-flight managers that have fallen victim to ruthless world that
is Football Management, so many names it sounds like a starting line-up.
Winning games is essentially the aim of the game for managers, a feat which the
previously mentioned failed to master yet many sackings were still thought of
as unfair.
Cardiff City rose to the Premier League for the first time
in their history under the guidance of Malky Mackay, the Scotsman was sacked in
December despite many having faith in his methods. Owner Vincent Tan’s heavy
disagreements with Mackay saw to the decision, and has today proclaimed the
club’s relegation was Mackay’s doing.
Does Tan suffer from short-term memory loss and has
forgotten the last five months?!
Tan switched Mackay with former Red Devil Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer, no surprise there was not a massive amount of candidates vying for
the role after Tan showed his true colours attempting to meddle in the club’s
footballing affairs. Solskjaer had the perfect opportunity in the shape of the
January transfer window to fill
Cardiff’s cracks but ultimately the Norwegian’s
performance at the helm led to the Bluebirds demise.
Chris Hughton also receives a mention and commiserations,
losing his job only for the youth team manager to replace him. A relegation
battle Is not light matter and when the Norwich City players needed rejuvenating
to survive the club bizarrely altered the tactics and offered a man with no management
experience to take on this mountain of a task, only to find themselves
relegated on the final day of the season……doh!
In truth, I could continue for a considerable amount of time
highlighting errors fashioned by chairmen and clubs who have terminated manager’s
contracts because of impatience, pressure of the modern game whether that be
financial or from the media or the more irrational reasons but there is just
too many that have failed to pay off.
Will there be a point where more will be done by leagues or
other governing bodies create legislations to protect managers or will the continuous
rise in managerial casualties simply keep mounting?
In the modern game
where chairmen aim for quick fixes and reaching financial goals e.g Premier
League, Champions League etc. more has to be done to protect the middle-man who
all the failings fall on.
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