No Festive Goodwill From Trigger-happy Premier League Owners

LONDON, Jan 4, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 04th Jan, 2017 ) - Mike Phelan became the third Premier League manager in a fortnight to lose his job after being sacked by Hull City on Tuesday, leading to speculation about who will be next in a cut-throat world.

Fired after just 82 days occupying the role in an official capacity and with his side bottom of the table, Phelan joined Crystal Palace's Alan Pardew and Bob Bradley of Swansea City in losing his job over the festive period.

All three were released from their duties with their clubs in the bottom four and in danger of a relegation from the English top flight which would have serious financial ramifications. Bradley -- who lasted just 11 matches and 85 days in the Swansea hotseat -- had himself replaced the Italian Francesco Guidolin, sacked in early October.

One who should be casting a nervous glance at the newspapers and the bookmakers' odds on who is next for the exit is Watford's Walter Mazzarri. However, the 55-year-old Italian knows what pressure is having been in charge of Napoli and Inter Milan and appears unperturbed by questions about his future even though The Hornets have lost seven of their last 10 matches.

"I don't feel under pressure because I speak with the owner every day," said Mazzarri after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat away to Stoke City. "We know what our objective is and we're not only looking at the next five or six matches -- we are looking at the next three years.

"When you look at all the injuries we have, it is difficult to get results in the Premier League. Now we have to take this occasion to work for the future."