LMA chief calls 54 manager sackings 'embarrassing'

Roberto Martinez was sacked by Everton last week

Fifty-four managers have been sacked in England's top four divisions this season, claims League Managers' Association boss Richard Bevan.

He said the figure was the highest since 2001, with only five of those managers now back in work.

"It's another very relentless, disappointing and embarrassing season for the sport," Bevan told BBC Radio Four's Today Programme.

Twelve managers also quit, with Bevan claiming: "It's the worst season ever."

Two of the most recent managerial changes in the Premier League were Everton boss Roberto Martinez and Watford's Quique Sanchez Flores.

Martinez was sacked after three seasons with the Toffees, while Sanchez Flores leaves Watford after guiding them to 13th and the FA Cup semi-finals.

"There's a lot of pressure these days, not only on the managers and the professional practitioners, but also on the owners and executives running the clubs," said Bevan.

"You just need the people running the clubs to take a step back to assess what actually is a successful season for them and to manage the expectation of the fans."

In the Championship, there have been 38 sackings in the past two seasons.

Bevan added: "If you were to sack the most important person in any business every eight to 10 months, what will it do to your brand?

"What will it do to the market place? Obviously it causes instability, significant cost and a lot of problems from our members' perspective."

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