Next PL Manager to Leave Post Tip: Mark Hughes

Martin Jol remains the favourite (9/4 Skybet) in the next manager to leave his post market heading into the international break but I think at much longer odds there is another option worth considering.

Mark Hughes was hardly a universally popular pick at Stoke when he was selected as Tony Pulis’s successor in the summer but he started well enough with two wins in the opening three matches.

However, a decent August is already largely forgotten and there have now been three league defeats on the spin with no goals scored in the last two. When you consider that the last two opponents for the Potters were Norwich (18th) at the Britannia Stadium and against Jol’s Fulham (17th) at a Craven Cottage that the hosts keep losing at, the situation looks bleak.

Stoke are now back down in 16th themselves, only separated from the relegation zone by goal difference. The next two visitors to the Britannia are West Brom and Southampton; menacing fixtures when you consider that both those teams are currently playing really well yet the home fans will demand results regardless.

With only a trip to Old Trafford sandwiched between those games, Mark Hughes could reach mid-November in all sorts of peril. He was sacked by QPR on 23 November 2012, and at best odds of 25/1 (PaddyPower) it’s not inconceivable that something similar could befall him in 2013.