A RECORD 29 managers in the top four English divisions were sacked in the first half of this season, according to the League Managers Association’s Mid-Season Manager Statistics report.

    Leicester City’s Nigel Pearson, Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers, Sunderland’s Dick Advocaat, Aston Villa’s Tim Sherwood, Swansea City’s Garry Monk and former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho were replaced in the Premier League, while 10 Championship managers were fired.

    The statistics show that 29 managers were sacked between June 1 and Dec. 31 last year, two more than the previous high of 27 by the same point in the 2014-15 campaign. “We must continue to shine a light on this issue,” said League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan.

    “With the hire-and-fire culture engrained within football, it’s so difficult to survive for any meaningful length of time in order to learn your trade, learn from mistakes and experiences.

    “Managers must cope with instant judgements and, often, success and failure are rarely that far apart.”

    The report was released as Scunthorpe boss Mark Robins and Orient’s Ian Hendon became the latest casualties, with the figures suggesting the all-time high of 53 dismissals in 2001-02 could be exceeded by the end of the current campaign.

    For those who have departed — 29 were relieved of their duties and a further five left of their own volition — the average reign amounted to just 1.58 years.

    The figures contain depressing news for new bosses in particular with eight of the 29 dismissed having been in their first post.

    Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has, however, spent more than 19 years in the job and had 1,095 games under his belt by the turn of the year. Exeter’s Paul Tisdale is his closest competitor after 9.52 years in his job. (SD-Agencies)