The Sack Race.

Being a manager of a football club, in any league, in any division around the world comes with it's own  inevitable pressures. Today Owen Coyle, was sacked as manager of Bolton Wanderers FC. Coyle had gone from an FA Cup semi-final (which resulted in a 5-0 loss to Stoke) to an incredible slump in form  leaving Bolton dwindling in 18th position in the Championship. Coyle was initially popular amongst Bolton fans and this led him to probably having more time than he deserved.

The Championship is a notoriously hard league to get out of, many good managers have dropped down to the division and failed to make a distinct difference with one of the better teams. This often leads to a sacking from a trigger happy chairman who splashes more cash on their personal 'hobby'.

As a Chelsea fan of 20 years, I know all too well in our recent history what sort of effect the sacking of a manager can have on a team. Mourinho, still regarded as the greatest manager Chelsea has had, probably deserved the sack. That is a contentious statement, granted, but prior to his 'mutual parting' Chelsea had the worst slump in form since he took over. Sometimes a change is needed, and with a manager like Mourinho who rarely stays at a club for more than 3-4 seasons, the change was right - but made at the most inappropriate time.

 Sacking a manager can cause a rift between the upper echelons of the club and the fans - they will always be judged on the replacement - Mourinho's replacement Avram Grant took us to 3 points, one goal and one post of a treble. For Chelsea - this is failure.

Roberto Mancini, in his first 40 games at Manchester City had the same win percentage as his predecessors. However, the season after took City to the Champions league and the year after won the title in the most dramatic of fashions. He is now an idol within the Eithad Stadium.

Andre Villas Boas was sacked from Chelsea, after 40 games and the same win percentage as Mancini, replaced by Roberto Di Matteo who halted the revolution of Chelsea's playing style in order to win our first Champions League - this season he has carried on the work of Villas Boas implementing a style similar to Arsenal or Barcelona the Tiki - Taka; Deep lying midfield anchors forming the base of extremely flexible and small playmakers behind a central striker looking to break beyond defenders. A year later a bit more financial support from the owner and a lack of a certain, Mr. Drogba and Andre Villas Boas probably would be, being heralded as the second-coming. Very much like Tottenham fans saw him after their famous 3-2 victory at Old Trafford.