Sacking Season in Full Swing

A Month Of Madness

It is common knowledge amongst football fans that in the current era, managers are not afforded the time that they once had to make an impact. Since March 1st, eleven managers in the top 5 tiers have left their clubs for a variety of reasons. In a six day period earlier this month, four managers from the top three divisions left their posts, with three of the vacancies being permanently filled shortly afterwards.

Cull of the Wild

Chris Wilder became a hero at the club he supported as a boy, Sheffield United. When he was appointed as their manager in May 2016, Sheffield United had been stuck in League One for five seasons. Wilder had won the League Two title with Northampton Town a few weeks before, and repeated the trick at Sheffield United, winning the League One title in his first season at the club (with a club record 100 points).

He then took them back to the top tier in 2019, for the first time since their relegation in 2007, and followed that up with an impressive ninth place finish last season. However, a dismal campaign this time around resulted in a mutual parting of the ways on 13th March, with Paul Heckingbottom taking interim charge until the end of the season.

They Sacked Kenny!

The day after Wilder left his post, Portsmouth sacked Kenny Jackett after a run of one win in seven in the league (plus a cup defeat to Salford at Wembley). Jackett had been in charge on the south coast since June 2017, and had recorded a win percentage of 51% during his time there. They had reached the play-offs in each of the last two seasons, but failed to progress beyond the semi-finals in each one. Danny Cowley, former Lincoln and Huddersfield manager, has since taken over at Fratton Park.

Bowyer Resigns... Then Signs!

Lee Bowyer resigned his post as Charlton manager on 15th March after almost 3 years at the club. He initially took over at the club as caretaker manager in 2018, following the departure of Karl Robinson by mutual consent. In his caretaker spell, Bowyer guided Charlton to the League One play-off semi-finals, where they lost to Shrewsbury Town. He went one better in his first full season in permanent charge, beating Sunderland in the 2019 play-off final with a last minute goal to earn promotion to the Championship. However, the club were relegated the following season, during which Bowyer had to contend with a transfer embargo and an ownership struggle.

Charlton were 8th at the time of Bowyer's resignation, 2 points off the play-off places. Nigel Adkins has since taken over as manager, and they are now 7th, level on points with Blackpool in 6th. However, they have played up to 3 games more than some of the teams around them.

Lee Bowyer was reported to be present at Birmingham City's training ground, taking sessions with the players. At the same time, reports that Aitor Karanka was set to be sacked began to surface - these were confirmed on the 16th March, and Bowyer was quickly announced as his successor. His first game in charge came against Reading at home, which they won 2-1. They currently sit 21st, one place and 3 points outside of the relegation zone - they have played 4 games more than the team in 22nd, Rotherham United.