THE FIRING LINE: Who will follow Hughes and Megson out ?
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THE FIRING LINE: Who will follow Mark Hughes and Gary Megson out of the exit door?
Over and out: Gary Megson lost tyhe support of the Bolton fans
Gary Megson has become Premier League manager No 3 to get the boot this season and the second in just 11 days after Mark Hughes‘ exit from Eastlands.
As we enter the New Year some owners are starting to get nervous, but who's next for the chop?
Mick McCarthy is unsure about the offside rule, Roberto Martinez is looking to have a clear-out of players and Owen Coyle can’t buy a win - it’s clear that certain managers are more safe than others.
Each week we bring you our latest chart of the managers under pressure, and those on Easy Street. Here's Sportsmail's sack-race rankings - otherwise known as The Firing Line.
1
West Ham United - Gianfranco Zola
Things are a mess over in East London as Zola struggles to get results out of his injury-plagued side. In the bottom three and facing a relegation battle. The Gunners await in the Cup. NON-MOVER
2
Hull City - Phil Brown
All Phil Brown wanted for Christmas was a fit Jimmy Bullard, oh, and some points would be nice, too. Winless in six and they face Wigan in the third round of the FA Cup next. UP ONE.
3
Wigan Athletic - Roberto Martinez
Martinez has developed two defined sides for the Latics, one half-decent and one totally rubbish. The latter turned up at Old Trafford, but which one will play Hull in the Cup? UP TWO.
4
Wolves - Mick McCarthy
Honour in defeats to Liverpool and Man City but what Wolves need are more wins as they sit just a point above the drop zone. McCarthy's side tackle Tranmere in the FA Cup next. NON-MOVER
5
Burnley - Owen Coyle
Things are starting to go wonky for the Clarets - a winless run stretching back to October means no win in the last nine. They're on FA Cup duty away to MK Dons next. UP TWO.
6
Blackburn Rovers - Sam Allardyce
A relegation battle looms large over the horizon for Allardyce's side who haven't won in the league since November 22, eight games ago. Next up it's Villa in the Cup. UP THREE
7
Sunderland - Steve Bruce
Had it not been for Darren Bent, this would have been a less than ordinary season for Bruce and they're without a win in seven. The Black Cats are on FA Cup duty against Barrow next. UP ONE.
8
Portsmouth - Avram Grant
Pompey are a team and club falling apart, players aren't getting paid and the taxman is lurking, too. An impossible job for Grant who has Coventry to face in the FA Cup on Saturday. UP FOUR.
9
Stoke City - Tony Pulis
Sitting happy in mid-table but Pulis has admitted he needs to improve the quality of the squad in January after four defeats in the last five. It's York in the FA Cup next. DOWN ONE.
10
Liverpool - Rafa Benitez
Will salvation be born out of Fernando Torres' late strike against Aston Villa? Just four points off a Champions League spot going into the New Year and it's Reading next. DOWN FOUR.
11
Everton - David Moyes
The ship has been steadied over at Goodison, four successive draws ended with victory over Burnley. Mid-table mediocrity will be welcomed by many and it's Carlisle in the Cup next. UP TWO
12
Manchester City - Roberto Mancini
The blue and white scarf he donned in the previous two games has become synonymous with victory and, most encouraging, no goals conceded. Next up its 'Boro in the Cup. NEW ENTRY
13
Aston Villa - Martin O'Neill
Momentum has been lost with two defeats in two for Villa and, more worrying, no goals scored in the clashes with Arsenal and Liverpool. It's an FA Cup tie with Blackburn next. UP SIX.
14
Fulham - Roy Hodgson
They've lost just one of the last nine, and the one loss came after an unlucky own goal. Hodgson's just signed a new contract and his boys are flying - they face Swindon in the Cup next. NON-MOVER.
15
Chelsea - Carlo Ancelotti
Patchy results over Christmas has let the chasing pack close ground and he has injury headaches to go with the imminent Africa Cup of Nations departures. It's Watford next in the FA Cup. UP ONE.
16
Tottenham - Harry Redknapp
Undefeated in four with three wins and not a goal conceded. Spurs are in the Champions League spots, as Redknapp would say, 'triffic.' Next it's Peterborough in the Cup. DOWN ONE.
17
Birmingham City - Alex McLeish
Unbeaten in 11 in the top-flight, a feat the club has never achieved and they're just five points off a Champions League spot. McLeish is as safe as houses and it's Forest next. NON-MOVER.
18
Arsenal - Arsene Wenger
The Gunners look good, very good at the moment and they claim to be short in attacking options! Three wins in a row and they have West Ham on Sunday in the FA Cup. NON-MOVER.
19
Manchester Utd - Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex is certainly getting the best out of Wayne Rooney, he's confident enough to say he doesn't miss Ronaldo. Yeah, right! They've got Leeds in the pick of the ties in the FA Cup on Sunday. UP ONE.
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Bolton Wanderers - Vacant
In the bottom three at Christmas means it's going to be a tough start to 2010 for whoever takes over from Megson. One win in 13 and next it's a banana-skin Cup tie with Lincoln.
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most prolly will be Zola
he needs to win.
beautiful or ugly.
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zola still stay, the same goes for the wigan manager.
can see they've the potential, just need time.
neverless, rafael should top the list.
he shouldnt be given the chance to spend the new year of 2010 as the boss of liverpool.
christmas day should had been his last.