“It’s a results business,” has been mentioned on numerous occasions in the past in relationship to the departure of managers. However, can the sackings of Chris Hughton at Newcastle United and Sam Alladyce from Blackburn Rovers on Monday link to this generally regarded opinion?

Hughton left the Magpies following the 3-1 defeat to West Brom and became the first Premier League manager of the season to lose his job. This sacking came as much as a shock to the players as it did to anyone in the football industry. Veteran defender Sol Campbell claimed the decision ‘made no sense.’

The club released a statement mentioning that ‘an individual with more managerial experience was needed to take the club forward.’ What has Alan Pardew ever achieved in the top flight apart from relegation? Pardew was appointed just 3 days after the Hughton decision, so one would expect it to have already been in the pipeline before the West Brom result.

The second top-flight managerial casualty came just a week later with Sam Allardyce being relieved of his duties at Ewood Park. Admittedly ‘Fat Sam’ has lost three of his last five games in charge of the Lancashire club, but Blackburn were only one win away from 7^th place.

The new owners stated that they are on the lookout for a British manager; however ex Tottenham manager Martin Jol leads the way according to William Hill. Venky’s Group have also said: “We want good football and Blackburn to be fourth or fifth in the league – or even better.” The last time Rovers finished in the top 5 was the year they won the Premier League; the 1994/95 season. Can they really compete with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham?