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40 all out shock result – But we are talking football managers not cricket

New research by Warwick Business School shows that the dismissal rate of top football managers is accelerating. Dismissals during the period from June 2005 to the end of May 2006 rose to 40 managerial dismissals compared with 34 dismissals for the same period in 2004-05.

The number of Premiership manager dismissals dropped from 5 to 3. Outside of the premiership, however, the figure rose from 31 to 37 dismissals. This disappointing increase means that more than half of all managers outside the Premiership were dismissed in the 2005-06 season.

League

2004-2005

2005-2006

Premier

5

3

Championship

12

11

League 1

7

13

League 2

10

13

Total for Season

34

40


The new research updates Warwick Business School's widely quoted analysis of managerial dismissal trends since 1992 for the League Managers Association.

Warwick Business School researcher Dr Susan Bridgewater said: "The proportion of the dismissals which involve managers in their first full post remains at a worrying level. In 2004-2005, 12 out of the 29 dismissals outside the Premiership (41.4%) were of managers in their first full post. In 2005-06, 13 of the 37 dismissals outside the premiership (35.14%) are of first time managers. This seems to indicate a problem either in the way in which managers are selected or prepared for football management. To set alongside these figures, however, we have seen some excellent performances from first time managers, such as Aidy Boothroyd, Kevin Blackwell, and Steve Tilson suggesting that it is not all bad news for first time manages provided they prepare themselves well for the challenges facing a football manager."

LMA Chief Executive John Barnwell welcomed the Warwick Business School research. He said:

"I am grateful to the Warwick Business School for producing the most comprehensive piece of managerial statistical analysis ever undertaken in this field.

"There is clearly a major concern to the League Managers Association that the average life expectancy of a manager at a football club has fallen dramatically from 2.7 years in 1992-93 to 1.8 years last season.

"With an average of 40 dismissals per season, it means that almost half the clubs in the Premiership and Football League now change their manager every season.

"Stability is invariably the key to success in any industry and football is no different. The LMA believes it is crucial that our members are given every possible opportunity to succeed at their clubs.


June 2005- end May 2006

 

Manager

Club

Date

John Gorman

Wycombe W

26-May-06

Gudjon Thordarsson

Notts Co

25-May-06

Steve Thompson

Yeovil

18-May-06

Iffy Onuora

Swindon

18-May-06

Joe Royle

Ipwsich

12-May-06

Danny Wilson

MK Dons

11-May-06

Barry Hunter

Rushden & D

07-May-06

Brian Little

Tranmere

05-May-06

Johan Boskamp

Stoke

01-May-06

Kevan Broadhurst

Walsall

24-Apr-06

Steve Bleasdale

Peterborough

22-Apr-06

David Tuttle

Millwall

20-Apr-06

John Cornforth

Torquay

13-Apr-06

Brian Talbot

Oxford United

14-Mar-06

Mick McCarthy

Sunderland

06-Mar-06

Keith Curle

Chester

19-Feb-06

Gary Megson

Nottingham F

16-Feb-06

Martin Scott

Hartlepool

08-Feb-06

Ian Holloway

QPR

06-Feb-06

Paul Merson

Walsall

06-Feb-06

Graeme Souness

Newcastle

02-Feb-06

Phil Brown

Derby

30-Jan-06

Craig Levein

Leicester

25-Jan-06

Mark Wright

Peterborough

25-Jan-06

Leroy Rosenior

Torquay

25-Jan-06

Mick Harford

Rotherham

10-Jan-06

Chris Turner

Stockport

26-Dec-05

Colin Lee

Millwall

21-Dec-06

Neale Cooper

Gillingham

15-Nov-05

Colin Hendry

Blackpool

09-Nov-05

Alain Perrin

Portsmouth

14-Oct-05

Andy King

Swindon

26-Sep-05

Ian Atkins

Bristol R

22-Sep-05

Graham Barrow

Bury

19-Sep-05

Carlton Palmer

Mansfield

17-Sep-05

Brian Tinnion

Bristol C

11-Sep-05

Bobby Williamson

Plymouth

06-Sep-05

Steve Claridge

Millwall

27-Jul-05

Tony Pulis

Stoke

28-Jun-05

George Burley

Derby

07-Jun-05


Dismissals June 2004 - end May 2005

 

Lennie Lawrence

Cardiff

23-May-05

Ian Richardson

Notts Co

17-May-05

Stan Ternent

Gillingham

15-May-05

Steve Thompson

Cambridge U

10-May-05

Dennis Wise

Millwall

08-May-05

Neale Cooper

Hartlepool

04-May-05

Ramon Diaz

Oxford U

04-May-05

Ian Rush

Chester

05-Apr-05

Ray Lewington

Watford

22-Mar-05

Paul Hart

Barnsley

04-Mar-05

Brian Talbot

Oldham

24-Feb-05

Ronnie Moore

Rotherham

31-Jan-05

Ernie Tippett

Rushden & D

18-Jan-05

Peter Reid

Coventry

06-Jan-05

Keith Curle

Mansfield

17-Dec-04

Joe Kinnear

Nottingham F

16-Dec-04

Herve Renard

Cambridge U

13-Dec-04

Steve Wigley

Southampton

08-Dec-04

Sammy McIlroy

Stockport

25-Nov-04

Andy Hessenthaler

Gillingham

23-Nov-04

Graham Rix

Oxford U

14-Nov-04

Stuart Murdoch

MK Dons

08-Nov-04

Gary Mills

Notts Co

04-Nov-04

Dave Jones

Wolves

01-Nov-04

Gary Megson

WBA

26-Oct-04

Chris Turner

Sheffield Wed

18-Sep-04

Bobby Robson

Newcastle

30-Aug-04

Craig Brown

Preston

29-Aug-04

Paul Sturrock

Southampton

23-Aug-04

Mark Wright

Chester

06-Aug-04

Bryan Robson

Bradford C

16-Jun-04

Danny Wilson

Bristol C

04-Jun-04

Stan Ternent

Burnley

03-Jun-04

Claudio Ranieri

Chelsea

01-Jun-04

 

For further information please contact:

Dr Sue Bridgewater Warwick Business School
024 76524341   S.H.Bridgewater@warwick.ac.uk

Peter Dunn, Press and Media Relations Manager
University of Warwick Tel: 024 76 523708
or 07767 655860 p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

Vin Hammersley, Media Relations Manager
Warwick Business School Tel: 024 76524124
v.t.hammersley@warwick.ac.uk

PR36 31st May 2006