CARVALHAL OUT TO BUCK TREND

CARLOS CARVALHAL finally chose to announce the length of his new Sheffield Wednesday contract yesterday in direct response to ‘embarrassing’ sacking statistics. The League Managers Association revealed that 56 bosses had been sent packing this season, 32 of which were English. Wednesday, who face Hull City in tomorrow’s Championship play-off final at Wembley, extended Carvalhal’s stay back in April, but he waited until the LMA announced their findings to say that is a threeyear deal. With 18 firings in the Championship alone, LMA chief Richard Bevan fumed: ‘It’s another relentless, disappointing and embarrassing season for the sport, the worst season ever.’ Carvalhal, a man with 16 clubs on his c.v. in 18 years including Besiktas and Sporting Lisbon, only actually wanted to sign for another campaign at Hillsborough. ‘But the chairman wanted three,’ the Portuguese said. ‘I don’t need a four-year contract. I don’t need money. I’m good with my life. If this happens (staying) I’m happy. ‘Being happy is the people around you enjoying what you are doing. If they are I can stay here 10 years. If they aren’t it will be different.’ The prize for tomorrow’s winner will be Premier League football and revenue of more than £200million. Carvalhal will be more secure in his role if Wednesday do earn promotion, with only nine sackings coming in the Premier League this season. ‘I read today from the LMA that the average time in the Championship is one year and three months,’ he added. ‘It’s nothing new to me. Probably in Turkey it’s six months you survive; Portugal nine months. ‘It is modern football. We’ll see more clubs on a coach’s c.v. in the future, not like Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger. That won’t be the reality and it’s inevitable in my opinion.’