Source: Telegraph
Mark Hughes the 49th manager to go in 2009 - but change rarely improves results
That more than half the managers in English football lose their job every year would be considered shocking in any other profession but, as the statistics show, in football it is not unusual. [LNB]And a Telegraph survey proves that sacking the manager rarely reaps dividends. Of the 49 to have left in 2009, only nine departed for a new position. [LNB] Related ArticlesMancini's 13 predecessorsRoberto Mancini blows Manchester City's coverTop five Roberto Mancini prioritiesMancini: Robinho can 'make history' at Man CityItalian jobs: from Ancelotti to ZolaSport on televisionAnd of the 49 changes in 2009, only 19 brought an improvement to the club's fortunes with the team better off now than when the manager left. [LNB]In 20 cases, the club were worse off, while the other 10 teams are in the same position they were in at the time of the departure. [LNB]A good example is at Middlesbrough. Gareth Southgate led the Championship club to an impressive start of four games without loss or a goal conceded but chairman Steve Gibson, who is renowned for his patience, finally sacked the former England international in October with the club in fourth place. [LNB]Gordon Strachan replaced him and is still waiting for his first win after eight games, the 2-0 reverse at Newcastle on Sunday being the Scot's sixth defeat leaving the club in 14th place. [LNB]Hughes's departure means that more managers have left their jobs in a calendar year since 2006, when managers were at their most vulnerable with 62 leaving. [LNB]The figure has levelled off and, approaching the new year, there have been just two casualties in the Premier League this season. The most surprising statistic was the fact that the first, Paul Hart, survived until Nov 24. [LNB]That is the latest date a sacking has taken place during a season since Alain Perrin similarly left Fratton Park curiously the Frenchman was sacked on the same date in 2005. [LNB]The continued trend of managers losing their jobs nearly 300 have left in six years has concerned their ruling body, the League Managers Association. [LNB]Chief executive Richard Bevan said: "As expectations and desire for success continue to rise, results, constant pressure and the financial impact of losing league status all put significant pressure on personnel in a club. [LNB]"Managers have to focus on the short term rather than installing structures for developing the club long term. Sadly there is no perfect system to deliver success."[LNB]Bevan believes greater investment is required to improve the lifespan of managers. He added: "It is clear we have to invest heavily in the development pathway and in early 2010 we will be appointing a lifestyle officer to continue our efforts in this area. [LNB]"We are looking at all areas of football management, the training and development of young managers, the recruitment process, standard contracts for all LMA members and ways to improve the communication process between the club, the manager and the fans, setting clear, realistic targets and then managing expectations. [LNB]"The LMA are constantly highlighting the importance of continuity in the long-term success of a football club. Successful managers have all been given time in their role. [LNB]"It is also interesting to note how a comparable industry works. [LNB]"The Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance states that the revenue generated by the 92 Premier League and Football League clubs in the 2008-09 season was £2.5 bn. [LNB]"But less than £500,000 per year is invested in education and training for its technical and management staff including referees, which represents 0.02 per cent of the turnover of the 92 clubs. [LNB]"However, research into other industries including the UK film industry, reveals the difference heavy investment in training can make. [LNB]"The film industry's turnover in 2006 was £3.3 bn, of which at least £10 million per year was reinvested by the industry into education, training and personal development for a workforce of technical and management staff." [LNB]MANAGERIAL DEPARTURES [LNB]2009 49 [LNB]2008 48 [LNB]2007 45 [LNB]2006 62 [LNB]2005 35 [LNB]2004 51 [LNB]DEPARTURES 2009 [LNB]JANUARY [LNB]10: Jimmy Mullen (Walsall, L1). Position: 12. Position Now: 10. +2. [LNB]14: Glenn Roeder (Norwich, C). Position: 20. Position Now: 3. +17. [LNB]18: Martin Ling (L Orient, L1). Position: 21. Position Now: 20. +1. [LNB]23: Jan Poortvliet (Southampton C). Position: 23. Position Now: L1,15. -16. [LNB]FEBRUARY [LNB]8: Tony Adams (Portsmouth, P). Position: 16. Position Now: 20. -4. [LNB]9: Luiz Felipe-Scolari (Chelsea, P). Position: 4. Position Now: 1. +3. [LNB]16: Russell Slade (Yeovil, L1). Position: 21. Position Now: 17. +4. [LNB]21: Micky Adams (Brighton, L1). Position: 21. Position Now: 21. =. [LNB]MARCH [LNB]3: John Sheridan (Oldham, L1). Position: 4. Position Now: 19. -15. [LNB]APRIL [LNB]9: Paulo Sousa (QPR, C). Position: 10. Position Now: 10. =. [LNB]22: Graham Turner (Hereford, L1). Position: 24. Position Now: L2,17. -17. [LNB]30: Dave Penney* (Darlington, 2). Position: 12. Position Now: 20. -8. [LNB]MAY [LNB]2: Dean Glover (Port Vale, L2). Position: 18. Position Now: 16. +2. [LNB]6: Jim McGannon (Stockport, L1). Position: 18. Position Now: 24. -6. [LNB]6: Lee Richardson (Chesterfield, L2). Position: 10. Position Now: 5. +5. [LNB]12: Steve Coppell (Reading, C). Position: 4. Position Now: 20. -16. [LNB]25: Ricky Sbragia (Sunderland, P). Position: 16. Position Now: 10. +6. [LNB]30: Guus Hiddink* (Chelsea, P). Position: 3. Position Now: 1. +2. [LNB]JUNE [LNB]3: Steve Bruce* (Wigan, P). Position: 11. Position Now: 16. -5. [LNB]4: Brendan Rodgers* (Watford, C). Position: 13. Position Now: 13. =. [LNB]5: Ronnie Moore (Tranmere, L1). Position: 7. Position Now: 22. -15. [LNB]15: Roberto Martinez* (Swansea, C). Position: 8. Position Now: 5. +3. [LNB]18: Tony Mowbray* (WBA, P). Position: 20. Position Now: C,2. -2. [LNB]30: Roberto Di Matteo (MK Dons, L1). Position: 3. Position Now: 9. -6. [LNB]JULY [LNB]9: Mark Wotte (Southampton, C). Position: 23. Position Now: L1,15. +16. [LNB]AUGUST [LNB]14: Bryan Gunn (Norwich, L1). Position: 23. Position Now: 3. +20. [LNB]18: Paul Lambert* (Colchester, L1). Position: 1. Position Now: 4. -3. [LNB]30: Simon Davey (Barnsley, C). Position: 24. Position Now: 16. +8. [LNB]SEPTEMBER [LNB]2: Peter Jackson (Lincoln, L2). Position: 17. Position Now: 22. -5. [LNB]8: Stuart Gray (Northampton, L2). Position: 16. Position Now: 20. -4. [LNB]9: Mark Robins* (Rotherham, L2). Position: 1. Position Now: 3. -2. [LNB]27: Colin Todd (Darlington, L2). Position: 24. Position Now: 24. =. [LNB]OCTOBER [LNB]2: Gudjon Thordarson (Crewe, L2). Position: 14. Position Now: 13. +1. [LNB]9: John Barnes (Tranmere, L1). Position: 23. Position Now: 22. +1. [LNB]9: Peter Taylor (Wycombe, L1). Position: 24. Position Now: 23. +1. [LNB]12: Ian McParland (Notts Co, L2). Position: 5. Position Now: 6. -1. [LNB]14: Gary Waddock* (Aldershot, L2). Position: 5. Position Now: 8. -3. [LNB]19: Mike Newell (Grimsby, L2). Position: 23. Position Now: 23. =. [LNB]20: Gareth Southgate (Middlesbrough, C). Position: 4. Position Now: 14. -10. [LNB]NOVEMBER [LNB]1: Russell Slade (Brighton, L1). Position: 21. Position Now: 21. =. [LNB]9: Darren Ferguson (Peterborough, C). Position: 24. Position Now: 23. +1. [LNB]24: Paul Hart (Portsmouth, P). Position: 20. Position Now: 20. =. [LNB]DECEMBER [LNB]10: Paul Sturrock (Plymouth, C). Position: 23. Position Now: 24. -1. [LNB]11: Martin Allen (Cheltenham, L2). Position: 20. Position Now: 21. -1. [LNB]12: Brian Laws (Sheffield Wed, C). Position: 22. Position Now: 22. =. [LNB]15: Hans Backe (Notts Co, L2). Position: 6. Position Now: 6. =. [LNB]16: Brendan Rodgers (Reading, C). Position: 21. Position Now: 20. +1. [LNB]16: Jim Magilton (QPR, C). Position: 12. Position Now: 10. +2. [LNB]19: Mark Hughes (Manchester C, P). Position: 6. Position Now: 6. =. [LNB]*Manager moving to another job. [LNB]
