As we enter the latter stages of the season, all attention turns to both the title race and the ever-exciting relegation battle. However, for some, their season looks all but over, and instead, it is a case of planning for next season.
For three teams, patience is wearing thin as results stagnate and their aims become less likely by the day, leading to the English Premier League’s sack race quickly gathering pace.
The latest odds
- Fabian Hurzeler +125 (5/4)
- Scott Parker +175 (7/4)
- Oliver Glasner +250 (5/2)
- Eddie Howe +2500 (25/1)
Scott Parker
For Burnley, their current situation is as bleak as ever. A 2-1 defeat against League One Mansfield on Saturday means Burnley are now out of both cup competitions. A recent win against Crystal Palace showed promise, but it appears to be too little too late for the Clarets as they remain entrenched in the bottom three, staring down relegation once again.
Parker comes across as a calm figure on the touchline, with a methodology that is reliant on a solid defensive structure – something which just hasn’t been apparent under his tutelage this season.
The lack of goal-threat can be put down to a lack of quality investment. But it can also be down to Parker’s lack of optimism going forward, and a failure to get the best out of exciting young prospects such as Marcus Edwards and Loum Tchaouna.
History doesn’t favour Burnley’s manager either, as previous campaigns in England’s top flight have led to unsuccessful relegation battles and disappointment offensively, with these narratives resurfacing again.
With relegation not yet confirmed, the club may see this as a great chance to take a gamble on a new and more modern manager to integrate them for next season, or, even better, perform one of the greatest relegation recoveries in Premier League history.
Regardless, the Englishman’s tenure at the club seems to be coming to an abrupt close.
Fabian Hurzeler
While relegation fears could well define the end of one manager’s tenure, the predicament of Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler is built on stagnation and a failure to build on past successes.
Brighton currently sit 14th, and are winless in their last matches in all competitions. For a club that has become accustomed to a year-on-year progression, this mediocrity has amplified to an even greater extent.
Hurzeler is a great example of the modern-day manager. He is young, he is charismatic, plays expressive, fast-paced football and has excellent tactical intelligence. However, with the talent available to him on both ends of the pitch, you can’t help but feel this group should be challenging for Europe, not flirting with a potential relegation battle.
Luckily for the German, at 32 years old, he is the youngest manager in the Premier League and is sure to have a very long and successful career ahead of him. Ultimately, though, it remains to be seen if his future lies in Brighton, with a clear disconnect emerging between him and the fanbase.
Oliver Glasner
For Crystal Palace, what once looked like a season of promise has unravelled at alarming speed. A 1-1 draw away at Zrinjski Mostar in the Conference League, in a tie that was expected to be routine, has only intensified the scrutiny surrounding Oliver Glasner and his future at Selhurst Park.
Palace have now won just one of their last 15 matches in all competitions. That return has dragged them into uncomfortable territory domestically and stalled their European ambitions before they have properly begun. Performances have lacked control, while defensive lapses and an inability to turn dominance into goals have become recurring themes.
The frustration is sharpened by context. Glasner delivered the club’s first major trophy last season and followed it with Community Shield success, achievements that elevated expectations significantly. This campaign was meant to build on that momentum, not erode it.
Instead, momentum has vanished. Injuries and inconsistency have played a part, but so too has a tactical rigidity that opponents now appear prepared for. With a difficult run of fixtures approaching and fan patience thinning, the Austrian’s position no longer looks secure.
If results do not improve swiftly, Palace’s hierarchy may decide that sentiment cannot outweigh form. In a season that promised so much, Glasner now finds himself firmly in the Premier League’s sack race conversation.
Eddie Howe
The future of Eddie Howe is the most complex of all, as unlike the other two in the league’s sack race, he is the only one who has enjoyed a consistent period of success at the highest level – notably guiding Newcastle to a Carabao Cup trophy in 2025.
Injuries have ultimately not helped, but as they sit in 10th place, his side has underwhelmed, given the level of investment provided and the upward trajectory the club had coming into this season.
European qualification was seen as a realistic objective, but a combination of unfathomable defeats and a lack of tactical flexibility has not only seen Howe come under scrutiny, but also hindered their aim of qualifying for Europe.
His credit in the bank means a sacking would be quite the shock, despite how unforgiving the Premier League can be.
However, a failure to keep pace with teams around them may force the club to have some uncomfortable conversations.
Our verdict
If Burnley can pull themselves into contention for survival, giving Parker the boot might offer the coveted new manager boost for the Clarets. Failing that, Glasner looks primed to fall out with the hierarchy at Selhurst Park.
They’ve done just about everything else to ruin his season, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see him given his marching orders, despite the fact that he’s leaving at the end of the season.
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