There can only be a handful of jobs in the world where the public knows more about the security of your job than you do.
One of those is undoubtedly football manager, with supporter opinion a key aspect in if – and more specifically when – a beleaguered boss get the bullet.
Claudio Ranieri has tasted the best of times with Leicester City, but right now the Italian has lost the battle to save his Fulham career after being sacked this afternoon.
The bookmakers had his card marked with Ranieri down as a 1/10 shot to be the next Premier League manager to leave their post, and the omens didn’t look good as reports surfaced suggesting Ranieri had been summoned by the club’s board for crisis talks on Thursday.
They say once you’ve lost the crowd you’ve lost the job, and with the Fulham faithful calling for his had and unveiling ‘Ranieri Out’ banners during their 0-2 defeat at Southampton in midweek, let’s hope the Italian had his CV in Microsoft Word waiting to be updated.
Scott Parker has been handed the job of salvaging what is left of Fulham’s season after being given the role of caretaker boss until the end of the season. The Fulham owners seem to have accepted their Premier League fate and will look to appoint a new manager that can help them succeed in the Championship next term.
Here is who the bookies are tipping for the Craven Cottage hotseat on a permanent basis:
Scott Parker (1/10)
The former England international made more than 100 appearances for Fulham across four seasons, and was first team coach at the club prior to his appointment as caretaker. If he flourishes in this role, the job will surely be his full time.
The 38-year-old has long been spoken of as a manager – he’s an articulate, studious type who often topped those ‘most intelligent player in football’ type polls, and clearly the Fulham job would be the ideal proving ground for him.
Steve Clarke (10/1)
Few in the modern game boast a coaching career quite like Steve Clarke’s. He’s worked at Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham, and his knowledge of the game is said to be second-to-none.
His managerial career has been less glamorous but fairly successful, with decent stints at West Brom and Kilmarnock in particular.
Interestingly, when the Scot was manager at Reading in 2015 he was approached by Fulham, but decided not to take their vacant head coach’s role.
David Wagner (10/1)
There is a swathe of goodwill around David Wagner, and it’s rare that a manager is sacked and leaves a club on great terms.
But he will forever be remembered at Huddersfield Town, both for securing promotion n his first season in charge and for keeping the Yorkshire outfit up in their first top flight campaign, and while things went south shortly after his stock has not fallen.
An appointment with the Championship in mind, you would think the Fulham fans would be happy if Wagner is announced soon.
David Moyes (14/1)
With four sackings in six years, it would be a brave club that takes a chance on David Moyes.
In fairness, he’s been hampered by off-the-field problems at some of his clubs, but even so it’s not an appointment that would have the Fulham fans dancing in the aisles.
With minimal Championship experience to his credit, Moyes would be a rather bold appointment.
Chris Coleman (20/1)
This is one of those ‘tick the box’ rumours.
Coleman made more than 100 appearances for Fulham as a player before working his way through the coaching staff to manager; where he stayed for four years and enjoyed plenty of good times.
Success with Wales followed, and while a disastrous stint at Sunderland tarnished his reputation it’s clear for all to see from that famous Netflix documentary that the woes there weren’t exactly his fault.
Coleman is currently managing in China, but surely would welcome a crack at his first love once again.