Next Premier League Gaffer to go?

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With Chris Hughton having been relieved of his duties at Newcastle earlier this week, a few questions have been raised as to who's next?

One thing is for certain, Newcastle, under Hughton, were not the worst team in the league and Mike Ashley's decision will have plenty looking over their shoulders heading into the most prominent time for sacking managers; Christmas.

Looking at the Premier League table on writing, Newcastle (in 12th) sit seven points higher than table proppers West Ham and Wolves, both of whom can't seem to buy a point at the moment.

Avram Grant is one manager who has had stability, of sorts, at spells at Chelsea and Portsmouth over the last few years, but you wonder how long the West Ham fans, and the new owners, will sit and allow the situation to develop, given that West Ham have finished 17th position last season and were incredibly close to the drop when Carlos Tevez salvaged the club from the depths.
















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They can't afford to go down and, despite the points loss last season, Grant would not have kept Pompey in the top flight. His situation at Chelsea couldn't have been more different, but I expect that the likes of Scott Parker, Victor Obinna and Carlton Cole, will win him enough points over the next few weeks to save him from the sack.

Wigan Athletic, however, is another matter.

The one thing that Roberto Martinez has at the DW stadium is a trusting chairman in Dave Whelan and, with only three league wins this season, I question whether Whelan might have made the wrong option with bringing Martinez in back in June.

Martinez had a good record at Swansea, but his Premier League experience is limited. Not only that, but his squad at Wigan is not the best. Their main problem is that they can't score goals, but can Martinez really inspire the team to produce better than they are doing? I don't think so.













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Wigan have been hovering around the relegation zone over the last few years but this season, the uncertainty of N'Zogbia's future, combined with the chopping and changing of the strike force each week, have meant that the Latics have yet to click.

If he doesn't sort it soon, Whelan may have to take action as Wigan are another team that really can't afford to get relegated, especially with dwindling attendances in what is primarily a rugby town.

Aside from the teams at the bottom, it is clear that at the moment, no Premier League manager is safe from the sack, and we will never know how close managers are to resigning.

Steve Bruce stayed on after a 5-1 derby defeat, Carlo Ancelotti is still hanging on, despite being top of the league, and the likes of Sam Allardyce will be worrying that new owners might bring new expectations.

Maybe it's time the Premier League stepped in to protect the managers from over-expecting chairmen and owners.

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It really could be anyone but unless Aston Villa's fortunes can turn around quickly. I think Martin O'Neill's successor, Gerard Houllier, might be in greater trouble than is obvious, despite today's backing from owner Randy Lerner and chief exec Paul Faulkner. The side are struggling down in 16th place, a surprise given their form in previous seasons.





Houllier hasn't been as successful with his second stint in the Premier League.

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It will be interesting to see who Houllier brings in come January and it's clear that changes may also have to be made at Fulham, where Mark Hughes hasn't really hit the ground running after having his Man City spell cut short.

His side have drawn half of their games this season and have only managed maximum points on five occasions this term. If he can't convert them draws into wins, then his stay might be cut short. I think the pressure is off, despite Fulham's success in the Europa League last season. This seems to have brought them back down to Earth, but Hughes had the same problem with drawing games at City. I expect him to be given time, perhaps more so than Martinez or Houllier.




Mark Hughes hasn't had much to smile about since his summer move to Fulham.

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All managers live and die in the Premier League and I wouldn't be surprised, given the stakes, a few swaps happen over the next few months.