Next PL Manager to Leave Post Tip: Martin Jol

The bookies are always quick to make the managers of the relegation favourites the shortest odds to lose their jobs. This isn’t entirely logical as surely the chairman, board and supporters should be less panicky if a difficult season was to be expected.

Take Nigel Adkins as a case in point. The Southampton boss is just 6/1 (Bluesquare) to be the first top flight boss out the door, despite achieving back-to-back promotions at St Mary’s Stadium. There will surely be an outcry if he isn’t given a fair crack of the whip in the Premier League.

Instead, a man I would be more concerned for is Martin Jol - a 20/1 shot to be ousted first with Skybet. Fulham aren’t expected to struggle after strolling home in ninth position in 2011-12 but that’s exactly when expectations can become hard to manage.

The Cottagers look set to lose star man Clint Dempsey and his 17 league goals from last season would surely be irreplaceable. Pavel Pogrebnyak was next highest scorer (6) and he’s moved on to Reading. Next on the list was Bobby Zamora (5) and he now wears a QPR shirt. The attacking options are looking bleak.

Fulham have routinely struggled on their travels for years so a drop-off at home could prove disastrous. Jol can take little comfort in his chairman’s track record either. Mohamed Al-Fayed was quick to dismiss Jean Tigana, and Chris Coleman didn’t do much wrong after that. Lawrie Sanchez was another appointment given short shrift.

Roy Hodgson and Mark Hughes jumped before they were pushed but we shouldn’t forget how trigger-happy Al-Fayed can be. The omens don’t look great for Martin Jol and he could be the first manager to pack his bags, at long odds.