Record number of premier league manager changes
LONDON: The departures of coaches Carlos Carvalhal and Paul Lambert from relegated English Premier League clubs has raised the number of manager changes to a record 15 this season.
Swansea decided not to renew Carvalhal’s contract and Stoke let go of Lambert by ‘‘mutual consent’’.
They were the third and fourth coaches to leave their roles this week, following Sam Allardyce at Everton and David Moyes at West Ham.
There were 10 changes during the league, plus the preannounced exit of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
The previous record was 13 in 201314 for a league season from August 1 to May 31.
Carvalhal succeeded Paul Clement at Swansea in Decem ber, three days after leaving Sheffield Wednesday.
The 52yearold won five of his first nine league games as Swansea climbed to 13th place, but it picked up only three points from the last 27 on offer and was relegated in the last round last Monday. It finished 18th, confirmed after losing to Stoke 21 at home.
Swansea spent seven consecutive years in the top flight.
Stoke lasted a decade in the league.
Lambert was appointed on a two and ahalf year deal in January after Mark Hughes was sacked.
But Lambert won just two of his 15 games in charge: his first fixture against Huddersfield in January and what proved to be his final match at Swansea last weekend.
‘‘Whilst he was unable to guide us to premier league safety after being appointed in January, it certainly wasn’t due to a lack of effort, professionalism and dedication on his part,’’ Stoke said of Lambert on their website.
Bucking the trend was bottom side West Bromwich Albion, which kept faith in caretaker Darren Moore by appointing him to a permanent role.
The former defender took his side on an unbeaten run in April as caretaker after replacing the sacked Alan Pardew.
‘‘He (Moore) embodies the spirit of the club and the spirit of what we are striving to achieve in this new chapter ahead,’’ West Brom chief executive Mark Jenkins said in a statement.
There were also moves in the Championship, with former England manager Steve McClaren appointed by Queens Park Rangers on a twoyear contract.
He replaces Ian Holloway, who was sacked by the West London club after finishing 16th in the second tier last season. — Reuters