Guy Whittingham was the first victim of this mass manager sacking week after being in charge of Portsmouth for just over a year. Whittingham was originally appointed as a temporary manager after Appleton left for the Blackpool job, however after impressing he was given the job. He lead Portsmouth to a bottom of the table finish in league one, meaning Portsmouth are now in division 2, although to be fair this was with a minus ten point penalty to deal with and the club had just come out of a 14 month spell in administration.
Portsmouth are only 6 points above the league 2 relegation zone and after a fourth successive defeat, relegation from the football league altogether just could not be risked.
27th November - Richie Barker: Crawley Town (15th, League 1)
Scoring just one goal in seven games was enough o get Crawley Town boss Richie Barker the sack. Barker had been in charge for just over a year after taking the role following Steve Evans departure to Rotherham. Last season Crawley Town finished 10th in league one but they were expecting to be improving on that this year. Despite only scoring one goal in seven, the Red Devils are actually unbeaten in their last four games, however Barker could understand that goalscoring was a problem.
28th November - Sean O'Driscoll: Bristol City (23rd, League 1)
The third man to go was Bristol City boss O'Driscoll who left with only two wins in 18 games and Bristol deep in to the relegation zone of League 1. Sean took over Bristol last season with the club deep in to relegation troubles in the Championship. Ultimately he was unable to save them, however now they face the same situation but a whole division lower.
Sean decided to completely change the squad around over the Summer and it does not appear to be a plan that has worked in his favour. City have one of the biggest budgets in division one and should really be pushing for promotion, however, failing to win their first 12 games has set them off on the wrong foot and the owners felt a change was needed. This is their seventh change in three years however....
30th November - David Flitcroft: Barnsley (24th Championship)
Bottom of the league Barnsley relieved manager David Flitcroft of his duties on the final day of November, less than a year since he was appointed. The Tykes are not only bottom of the league but they also have the worst defence stats as well. Last season, appointed in January, Flitcroft managed to successfully guide Barnsley to safety where it looked they could be relegated, however with the club 6 points from safety it looks as though they may have to find someone else to do that job again this year.
1st December - Martin Jol: Fulham (18th Premier League)
After five straight defeats, Fulham lie just inside the relegation zone of the Premier league, somewhere they just cannot afford to be. Jol has been at Craven Cottage for two and a half years and despite being a popular manager, the owners felt he had to go. Jol was very gracious in being removed stating there are "better days" ahead for Fulham. He understood the decision after his final game was a 3-0 defeat by West Ham in which Fulham failed to register a single shot on target.
1st December - Dave Jones: Sheffield Wednesday (23rd Championship)
With Sheffield Wednesday once again in relegation trouble, Wednesday have taken the decision to remove Dave Jones as manager. The Owls had lost their last three games. Dave Jones lead the club to promotion from league 1 in his first season in charge. Wednesday are the only side in the football league who do not have a single clean sheet to their name.
Last season, Wednesday only just survived relegation finishing in 18th place and the board do not want to take another risk this year. Bottom club Barnsley made the first move by sacking Flitcroft just the day before and Wednesday quickly followed suit.
2nd December - Owen Coyle: Wigan (14th Championship)
To complete the week of managerial changes, Owen Coyle has left Wigan by "mutual consent". Wigan are the highest placed team to change their manager over this last week as they currently sit 14th in the Championship, however, having only just been relegated from the Premier league they were hoping to bounce straight back.
Wigan had a odd season last year, winning the FA Cup and therefore playing in Europe this year, however they were also relegated from the Premier League. Boss Roberto Martinez decided to leave the club and is currently having a very successful spell at Everton.
Coyle won only seven games for Wigan and they are currently 6 points off the play offs, not really promotion form. On the other hand Wigan are having a decent time in Europe and still have a chance to qualify for the last 32. It would surely be easier for them to be competing in the Championship when they are knocked out of Europe, something which Wigan probably should have thought about.
Wigan did make some impressive signings over the Summer, with Grant Holt being an example, a proven Premier League goalscorer, however they have failed to impress in the Championship as of yet this season.
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