The Sack Race...

December isn't traditionally a sacking month, although last year both Steve Cooper and Paul Heckingbottom were relieved of their duties in this festive month.
Although the busy schedule making managerial changes tricky, the January window offers a chance for a new manager to make squad changes (money willing).

So far only Erik ten Hag and Steve Cooper (again) have been fired, both replaced (initially at least in the first case) by Ruud van Nistelrooy. It doesn't seem likely either will get a PL return anytime soon so the manager market may deter sackings. Graham Potter and Gareth Southgate are among those jobless - but not necessarily welcoming offers.

Monday night saw a clash between the two favourites for the chop - Gary O'Neil and the man he replaced at Wolves - Julen Lopetegui. O'Neil seems to have credit in the bank for a good job last season, but form since a disastrous FA Cup quarter final defeat has been shocking and leaves him 6/4. West Ham fans are never pleased, and 14th place isn't where they expect to be. Monday's win put them 9 points clear of the relegation zone, and Lopetegui has bought himself time. He is 15/8.
Wolves are at home to Ipswich this weekend, while West Ham go to Bournemouth in another Monday night fixture.

A year is a long time in football, and the hope Ange Postecoglou brought into Spurs has diminished. A run of 1 win in 8, causing them to drop into the bottom half of the PL table and out of the top 8 in the Europa, has Big Ange's future put up for debate. He is 4/1 to be the next manager fired, and this week could be a big one. First up is a very winnable game away to Southampton and then on Thursday night they have an EFL Quarter Final home tie with Manchester United. With Liverpool after, 2 wins this week will certainly change the mood - but 2 defeats will certainly see his odds drop.

Southampton only have 1 win and 2 draws this season, so no surprise Russell Martin is 5/1 to go. Winning promotion obviously gives him time, but if the Saints have any real ambition of staying up they will either have to fully back or sack Martin.

Eddie Howe seems safe, but with Newcastle 12th questions have to be asked. 20/1 reflects there is limited immediate threat, but if they miss out on CL again will they be able to keep their best players?

3 months ago Pep Guardiola seemed untouchable. Football changes quickly though, and City are 8 points off the pace in the PL and down in 22nd in the CL table. The mental health of the City manager has been questioned, and the court case is out for judgement. These factors see Pep at 33/1 to be the next manager to leave. A Manchester derby on Sunday looks likely to be a real test for the out of form City, but there seems no chance City will sack the highly successful boss so you would have to gamble on Pep taking the leap - and he seems defiant. And, of course, City are more than capable of putting a run together and with no EFL Cup they have more rest than those around them.

Kieran McKenna has made Ipswich very hard to beat - 6 draws already - but can't turn decent performances into wins. A little gap has opened between 18th placed Ipswich and 17th Palace, and McKenna will have to make sure they don't lose touch. But it seems very unlikely he will be sacked by Ipswich, and the 40/1 at the bookies backs that up.

Also 40/1, and seemingly safe, is Sean Dyche. After losing the opening 4 games of the season, Everton have recovered to build a 5 point gap to the bottom 3 with a game in hand.

A number of bosses are 66/1. Marco Silva and Nuno Espirito Santo have their teams performing well, so getting sacked seems out of the question. Unless a bigger club from abroad comes in for them they are unlikely to be next out. Thomas Frank seems one of the safest bosses around, so he is similar to the other two. Unai Emery isn't having the best PL campaign, but a good showing in the CL makes him unlikely to be going anywhere and Ruud van Nistelrooy has only just taken the reigns at Leicester City. That leaves Oliver Glasner as the only one at 66s who could be worth a gamble. Palace are 17th and some big money signings aren't performing. If there is any real interest in the star men Eze and Guehi, Glasner may be facing an uphill battle.

Fabian Hurzeler has Brighton 7th, and 80/1 reflects that. Andoni Iraola could be a good bet for PLs 4th manager to leave his job this season, rumoured to be liked by Spurs, but next manager @ 100s highlights his good performance. Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta are both 100/1 as well, with Ruben Amorim. Arne Slot is 150/1.


Lopetegui seems the sensible bet, but if you think him, O'Neil and Postecoglou can withstand the storms they are currently in it may be worth looking lower down for managers who may run into trouble - and Oliver Glasner could be that man.