November and December bring the Premier League’s busiest ‘sacking season’

Premier League clubs are approaching the season’s busiest period for managerial departures, with November and December accounting for almost a third of in-season exits across the competition’s 34 completed seasons, BBC Sport reports.

No top-flight manager has been dismissed so far this campaign. But the BBC identifies Manchester United’s Michael Carrick, Crystal Palace’s Pierre Sage and Newcastle’s Matthias Jaissle among those facing scrutiny as the autumn progresses.

The timing matters: clubs have often changed managers around the autumn international breaks and before Christmas, ahead of the January transfer window. November and December have each seen 35 in-season departures, the highest monthly totals in the BBC’s figures.

Last season, 11 managers left their posts, with Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca the only one to resign. Those who departed had spent an average of 310 days in charge — the second-lowest figure in Premier League history, after 1994-95.

Carrick’s position has come under renewed attention after Manchester United’s 4-1 defeat by Como in the Champions League. BBC pundit Nedum Onuoha said public differences between Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes over the team’s performance could make it difficult to maintain dressing-room support. That is Onuoha’s assessment; the BBC reports no United dismissal.

At Palace, Sage apologised to supporters after a 5-0 defeat by Brighton and faces Newcastle next. The BBC also names Newcastle boss Jaissle, Nottingham Forest’s Oliver Glasner, Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris and Bournemouth’s Marco Rose as managers to watch, while noting that recent wins have eased pressure on Tottenham’s Roberto De Zerbi and Fulham’s Álvaro Arbeloa.

A record nine clubs began the season with new permanent managers, and five are in the bottom half of the table, according to the BBC. The broadcaster says the financial consequences of relegation are one reason clubs may act quickly; its historical figures show that the busiest months for departures are still ahead.