Source: Daily_Mail
THE FIRING LINE: Who will follow Hughes and Megson out of the door?
Gary Megson has become Premier League manager No 3 to get the boot this season and the second in just 11 days after Mark Hughes' exit from Eastlands.[LNB]As we enter the New Year some owners are starting to get nervous, but who's next for the chop?[LNB] Over and out: Gary Megson lost the support of the Bolton fans[LNB]Mick McCarthy is unsure about the offside rule, Roberto Martinez islooking to have a clear-out of players and Owen Coyle can't buy a win -it's clear that certain managers are more safe than others.[LNB]Each week we bring you our latest chart of the managers underpressure, and those on Easy Street. Here's Sportsmail's sack-racerankings - otherwise known as The Firing Line.[LNB]1West Ham - Gianfranco ZolaThings are a mess over in East London as Zola struggles to getresults out of his injury-plagued side. In the bottom three and facinga relegation battle. The Gunners await in the Cup. NON-MOVER[LNB]2Hull City - Phil BrownAll Phil Brown wanted for Christmas was a fit Jimmy Bullard, oh, andsome points would be nice, too. Winless in six and they face Wigan inthe third round of the FA Cup next. UP ONE[LNB][LNB]3Wigan - Roberto MartinezMartinez has developed two defined sides for the Latics, one half-decent and one totally rubbish. The latter turned up at Old Trafford, but which one will play Hull in the Cup? UP TWO[LNB][LNB]4Wolves - Mick McCarthyHonour in defeats to Liverpool and Man City but what Wolves need are more wins as they sit just a point above the drop zone. McCarthy's side tackle Tranmere in the FA Cup next. NON-MOVER[LNB]5Burnley - Owen CoyleThings are starting to go wonky for the Clarets - a winless run stretching back to October means no win in the last nine. They're on FA Cup duty away to MK Dons next. UP TWO[LNB]6Blackburn - Sam AllardyceA relegation battle looms large over the horizon for Allardyce's side who haven't won in the league since November 22, eight games ago. Next up it's Villa in the Cup. UP THREE[LNB]7Sunderland - Steve BruceHad it not been for Darren Bent, this would have been a less than ordinary season for Bruce and they're without a win in seven. The Black Cats are on FA Cup duty against Barrow next. UP ONE[LNB]8Portsmouth - Avram GrantPompey are a team and club falling apart, players aren't getting paid and the taxman is lurking, too. An impossible job for Grant who has Coventry to face in the FA Cup on Saturday. UP FOUR[LNB][LNB]9Stoke City - Tony PulisSitting happy in mid-table but Pulis has admitted he needs to improve the quality of the squad in January after four defeats in the last five. It's York in the FA Cup next. DOWN ONE[LNB]10Liverpool - Rafa BenitezWillsalvation be born out of Fernando Torres' late strike against AstonVilla? Just four points off a Champions League spot going into the NewYear and it's Reading next. DOWN FOUR[LNB]11Everton - David MoyesTheship has been steadied over at Goodison, four successive draws endedwith victory over Burnley. Mid-table mediocrity will be welcomed by manyand it's Carlisle in the Cup next. UP TWO[LNB][LNB]12Man City - Roberto ManciniThe blue and white scarf he donned in the previous two games has become synonymous with victory and, most encouraging, no goals conceded. Next up its 'Boro in the Cup. NEW ENTRY[LNB]13Aston Villa - Martin O'NeillMomentum has been lost with two defeats in two for Villa and, moreworrying, no goals scored in the clashes with Arsenal and Liverpool.It's an FA Cup tie with Blackburn next. UP SIX[LNB]14Fulham - Roy HodgsonThey'velost just one of the last nine, and the one loss came after an unluckyown goal. Hodgson's just signed a new contract and his boys are flying - they face Swindon in theCup next. NON-MOVER[LNB] [LNB]15Chelsea - Carlo AncelottiPatchy results over Christmas has let the chasing pack close groundand he has injury headaches to go with the imminent Africa Cup of Nations departures. It's Watford next in the FA Cup. UP ONE[LNB]16Tottenham - Harry RedknappUndefeated in four with three wins and not a goal conceded. Spurs are in the Champions League spots, as Redknapp would say, 'triffic.' Next it's Peterborough in the Cup. DOWN ONE [LNB][LNB]17Birmingham City - Alex McLeishUnbeatenin 11 in the top-flight, a feat the club has never achieved andthey're just five points off a Champions League spot. McLeish is as safe as houses and it's Forest next. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB][LNB]18Arsenal - Arsene WengerThe Gunners look good, very good at the moment and they claim to be short in attacking options! Three wins in a row and they have West Ham on Sunday in the FA Cup. NON-MOVER[LNB]19Man United - Sir Alex FergusonSir Alex is certainly getting the best out of Wayne Rooney, he's confident enough to say he doesn't miss Ronaldo. Yeah, right! They've got Leeds in the pick of the ties in the FA Cup on Sunday. UP ONE[LNB][LNB]-Bolton Wanderers - VacantIn the bottom three at Christmas means it's going to be a tough start to 2010 for whoever takes over from Megson. One win in 13 and next it's a banana-skin Cup tie with Lincoln.[LNB] THE FIRING LINE: Gianfranco Zola and Phil Brown at mercy of the big boys - but find out who can enjoy Christmas cheerTHE FIRING LINE: We're braced for a tight Christmas as Gary Megson, Phil Brown and Mick McCarthy fight for their jobs
