It doesn't take long for managers to feel the pressure
Tuesday 02 September 2008
Bristol City boss Gary Johnson has described the Championship as a dangerous place for managers, and the statistics support his view.
Sixteen of the 24 managers in the division have been at their clubs for less than two years, 11 for less than 12 months.
The average length of service for a manager in the Championship is believed to be around 13 months.
Paul Jewell does not need to be told how tough an environment it can be.
He is feeling the heat as Derby County struggle to find their feet following relegation. They are without a win in four matches and are propping up the table.
His record since becoming manager is shocking.
No win in 28 league games is not helping his cause but while some fans want him out, most are willing to give him more time, unless I am reading the signs wrong.
Jewell is favourite with the bookies to be the first Championship manager to be sacked and the division is already showing its teeth in the early weeks of the season.
Barnsley’s Simon Davey was under pressure before his side grabbed their first points of the season by beating Derby at the weekend.
“It (the Championship) will be a dangerous place for managers again,” said Johnson.
"Just look at the history. It’s mad, because somebody has to be first and somebody has to be 24th, and most of the time, there’s nothing to choose between them.
"I look down the list of names of people who are in charge at the start of the season, and they are all good people with experience and quality.
"There are good managers and good clubs but by the end of September, one of us will be bottom of the table and finding out about pressure.
“Whoever it is will be no less a person but simply the luck has not gone their way.”
Before Reading were relegated in May – Steve Coppell has been with the Royals since October 2003 – Adie Boothroyd at Watford and Dave Jones at Cardiff were the longest serving managers in the Championship.
Boothroyd, who guided Watford to promotion in 2006, has been in charge of the Hornets since March 2005.
Jones has been at Ninian Park since May 2005, although there were times last season when he came under fierce pressure before guiding the Bluebirds to the FA Cup final against Portsmouth.
Johnson has held the managerial reins at Bristol City for three years.
Logic says managers need time to stamp their mark on clubs, and certainly longer than four league matches of a new season, but how long they are given will always be dictated by results.
No manager can continue indefinitely without winning a league game.
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