What on earth is going on in England’s Premier League? Two Premiership managers have been sacked in the past week going against the players and fans wishes, which raises questions about modern-day football club owners.
Indeed, when Newcastle owner Mike Ashley dismissed Chris Hughton last week, replacing him with Alan Pardew on a five-and-a-half year deal, many were shocked.
But Monday’s announcement by Blackburn’s new Indian owners the Venky’s Group that Sam Allardyce had been given the flick was another stunner.
Both bosses had done fine jobs at their respective clubs and few saw their dismissals coming.
For starters, Hughton had unified a Newcastle side who had been relegated in 2009 after going through that season under three different managers.
Hughton took the Magpies to promotion and a Championship crown.
Then he guided them to a smooth transition back into the Premiership, sitting top-half for the most part of the campaign after good results against the likes of Arsenal (1-0 at Emirates), Chelsea (1-1 at home) and the memorable 5-0 win over rivals Sunderland.
The supporters had warmed to him, the players loved him.
Allardyce had enjoyed similar relationships with fans and his squad at Ewood Park.
‘Big Sam’ had come into the Rovers job after Paul Ince’s failed time at Blackburn, but Allardyce revived the club that term and eased them away from the drop zone – ironically at Newcastle’s expense in the end.
Allardyce then guided Rovers to a top-half finish last term, and the club appeared secure as a Premiership outfit.
This campaign, they had been solid and well clear of the drop zone. Yes, they had copped a 7-1 thrashing at Manchester United, but Allardyce’s leadership shone through when he guided Rovers to a 3-0 win over Wolverhampton the following week.
For Allardyce to now get the chop is stunning.
Blackburn and Newcastle all of a sudden are not secure in the top flight. Both clubs’ stability has been rocked.
Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen said: “I am devastated for Sam. He had an absolutely fantastic relationship with all of the players. Everyone respected him. He took the club out of the doldrums really.
“We were in massive trouble with no money. He solidified us and put us into a top-10 position, and again he did it on a shoe-string. I’m just getting over the shock of it.”
Newcastle players echoed similar sentiments after Hughton’s sacking last week.
Magpies defender Sol Campbell said: “Chris is such a lovely guy. Top man. This will hit the players hard. The players admired him, and liked him, and won’t be happy now he’s gone like this.”
“You have got to ask yourself why this has happened because it makes no sense. Here is a guy who has done an unbelievable job. He got the club back into the Premier league and any manager would have been rewarded for that with a new contract - but Chris wasn’t.
“The players are sure to be asking themselves ‘what the hell is going on?’”
But the players aren’t alone in asking what the hell is going on.
Two strange sackings in a week, shows the pressures of the big business that is England Premiership football.
If that’s the modern-day nature of ownership decision-making then fans and players voices may never be heard again.
But maybe Ashley and Venky’s know something they don’t. For their sakes, lets hope they do, because on face-value these seem like two unbelievable and irreconcilable decisions.