The English Football League is full of twists and turns, none more so than in the dugout, so naturally, we’ve set up a Next League 1 Manager to be Sacked Odds article here at zicoball to be updated every time the axe falls somewhere in the third tier.
Whether it be long, underwhelming, winless runs, the bigger boys poaching from those below them, or teams not quite reaching their full potential, will we reach the 15 managerial casualties seen last season?
- Next League 1 Manager To Be Sacked Odds
- Matt Bloomfield
- Gary Caldwell
- Charlie Adam
- Michael Appleton’s Addicks No More
- The 2022/23 Managerial Changes
- The Longest Serving League 1 Manager
Next League 1 Manager To Be Sacked Odds
The leading bookmakers either don’t want to offer a Next League 1 Manager to be Sacked market, or they can’t be bothered. It’s probably a bit of both. So, until they do, we’ll be creating our own.
The aim is to detail how we see the market shaping up so that if the bookmakers do go live, we’ll have a handy line-up which might showcase potential value betting angles and the implied probability to consider.
| Name | Current Club | Odds | Implied % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Bloomfield | Wycombe | 1.40 | 71.4% |
| Gary Caldwell | Exeter | 2.20 | 45.5% |
| Charlie Adam | Fleetwood | 4.00 | 25.0% |
| Ruben Selles | Reading | 7.00 | 14.3% |
| Paul Hurst | Shrewsbury | 12.00 | 8.3% |
| Michael Skubala | Lincoln | 26.00 | 3.8% |
Will Matt Bloomfield be the next League 1 manager to be sacked?
If Michael Appleton losing his job with one win in 11 league games is the benchmark, then Matt Bloomfield’s solitary league victory in 16 has well and truly taken the biscuit. One league win in nearly four months won’t cut it in Wycombe.
Calls of Bloomfield out can be seen plastered all over social media, and it’s no surprise. Wycombe simply aren’t getting the results over the line, a case in point being Wigan’s 120th-minute winner (1-0) on the road.
Key injuries have caused a headache for Bloomfield. That will be considered when looking at his position on the whole, but that’s part and parcel of the game. We’re advocates of giving managers time in the EFL - these people aren’t miracle workers. However, this current barrenless run is evidently long enough to concern ownership.�?
After the Wigan loss, Bloomfield spoke about the current lay of the land in camp, “The boys know that a lot of the performances recently have been very good, and if we can focus on that and cut out the late goals, then we know we’re not too far away.
“We can only focus on the things that we can affect, and going into Saturday, we need to make sure that our performance levels are high. If we focus too much on the negatives, then we’ll forget about the things which we’re good at that can help us.”
The League 1 Sack Race: Exeter’s Gary Caldwell crying out for a striker
The recent win away against Bristol Rovers was much better from Exeter. Those three points could prove crucial come the end of the season, but is it just papering over the Caldwell-inspired cracks?�?
From mid-September to Boxing Day, the Grecians went 13 fixtures without a victory, signalling plentiful concerns from the concourses at St. James’ Park every other weekend. Since then, Exeter’s rate of losses has diminished dramatically, though the form at the back end of 2023 still lingers like a bad smell.�?
Gary Caldwell has some work to do if he’s to get the fans back on his side. If 2024’s results continue, he may well work himself off the Next League 1 Manager to be Sacked Odds list, but that’s a big IF.
Regardless, if Exeter fails to pick up a striker in January, something they’re clearly crying out for with the lack of goals and departures in the summer, that will be a striking blow to any chances of saving this season. There’s a reason the Grecians languish in the bottom three for the fewest goals scored in the division.
Is Charlie Adam the next League 1 manager to be sacked?
The outlook for the remainder of Fleetwood’s season feels bleak. A summer of chaos in the boardroom laid the shakiest of foundations for a club that now props up the League One table with the most goals conceded and a scoring rate way below 1.00 goals per90.�?
It’s Charlie Adam who has the unenviable task of attempting to keep the Cod Army up. This is Adams’ first managerial position - talk about chucking him into the deep end. And it couldn’t have started any worse. Since taking the position, Adam lost his first four fixtures in charge.
It’s a continuation of an underperforming theme under Lee Johnson. It’s hard to lay too much blame at Adam’s door, but, equally, you can’t rule him out of the next League One manager to be sacked odds running. If the defeats continue, then expect something to be done to arrest the slide - League One status is at stake.
Appleton’s Addicks are no more
No wins in ten encourages the most recent League 1 sacking.
Michael Appleton, who was appointed at the start of September, where he enjoyed an initial decent two-month spell, has been relieved of his duties at Charlton Football Club. Since the 2-1 home victory against Cheltenham on November 28th, Appleton’s Addicks failed to win in ten consecutive League One fixtures.�?
No League One team had conceded more goals (14) in their last six games than Charlton. And no side picked up fewer points (1) in that timeframe.
Grumblings of discontent amongst the fanbase could be heard swirling around The Valley, so it was no surprise to see Appleton ushered out of the door following an underwhelming period.
The Managerial changes in the 2022/23 EFL League One season
During the 2022/23 EFL League One season, fifteen managerial changes occurred. Several managers faced the chopping block for various reasons, the majority being that the results weren’t quite up to scratch for their respective owners.
Others went on to take up positions at other clubs. Most notably, Rob Edwards made the jump to the Championship after a whirlwind promotion from League Two, and QPR came sniffing around the services of Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth.�?
The two aforementioned head coaches experienced a different trajectory following their moves, with Edwards now managing Premier League outfit Luton Town and Ainsworth, unfortunately, deemed not good enough by the powers-that-be at Loftus Road.
- Charlton Athletic:�?Johnnie Jackson (Sacked), Ben Garner (Sacked)
- Fleetwood Town:�?Stephen Crainey (Returned to Under-23s coaching role)
- Barnsley:�?Martin Devaney (End of interim spell)
- Forest Green Rovers:�?Rob Edwards (Signed by Watford), Ian Burchnall (Sacked)
- Cheltenham Town:�?Michael Duff (Signed by Barnsley)
- Derby County:�?Wayne Rooney (Resigned), Liam Rosenior (End of interim spell)
- Exeter City:�?Matt Taylor (Signed by Rotherham United)
- Lincoln City:�?Michael Appleton (Mutual consent)
- Burton Albion:�?Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Sacked)
- Milton Keynes Dons:�?Liam Manning (Sacked)
- Portsmouth:�?Danny Cowley (Sacked)
- Peterborough United:�?Grant McCann (Sacked)
- Wycombe Wanderers:�?Gareth Ainsworth (Signed by Queens Park Rangers)
- Oxford United:�?Karl Robinson (Sacked)
- Port Vale:�?Darrell Clarke (Sacked)
Who is the longest-serving manager in League One? Let’s head to Bolton
Ian Evatt: Three years and six months (July 2020)
Ian Evatt’s tenure as the manager of Bolton Wanderers, beginning in July 2020, has been a period of significant transformation and resurgence for the club. When Evatt took over, Bolton had just suffered a double relegation, dropping to League Two, the fourth tier of English football. This represented a low point for a club with a proud history, including Premier League participation and European football.
Evatt, coming from a successful spell at Barrow, where he led them to promotion from the National League, brought a philosophy of attractive, possession-based football to Bolton. He faced the immense challenge of rebuilding a squad and instilling a new mindset within the club. His first season (2020/21) was a testament to his ability to overcome adversity. After a difficult start, Evatt’s Bolton gained momentum in the second half of the season, culminating in a dramatic promotion to League One, finishing third in League Two.
The following season in League One (2021/22), Evatt continued to develop the team’s style and identity. Bolton became known for their exciting, attacking play, and Evatt earned praise for his tactical acumen and player development. While the team faced challenges competing in a higher division, they showed considerable promise and mid-table stability, a significant achievement given the turmoil of the previous years.
Forward thinking
Evatt’s focus on youth development has been a key feature of his tenure. He has given opportunities to several young players, blending them with experienced professionals to create a balanced and competitive squad. This approach has not only produced results on the pitch but also helped stabilise the club financially.�?
The trip to Wembley and the�?emphatic 4-0 win�?over eventual League One champions Plymouth Argyle stand out as a highlight of his time at the club, with Trotters fans hoping many more similar days out are just around the corner. The 4-0 scoreline is the biggest the competition has ever witnessed in the final.
Under Evatt, Bolton has reestablished itself as a forward-thinking club. His leadership has restored pride and optimism among the Wanderers’ fanbase. While challenges remain, including aspirations for further promotions and consolidating the club’s position in the football league system, Evatt’s impact at Bolton has been largely positive.