Norwich City Heaven - Chris Hughton sacking

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It's ironic that Chris Hughton was sacked as Newcastle United manager when he didn't deserve to be but remained in charge of Norwich City when he surely should have been handed his P45 months ago. The former Tottenham Hotspur left-back's winning rate as Norwich boss was 29.2%, slightly better than Bryan Gunn and worse than Glenn Roeder! However in December 2010 there was outrage in the media when the Newcastle board dismissed Hughton because they wanted "an individual with more managerial experience."

Newcastle appointed Hughton as permanent manager of the club in 2009 after 2 spells as caretaker and he repaid their faith in him by leading the Magpies back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Newcastle were unbeaten at home and lost only 4 league games. Hughton won a hat-trick of manager of the month awards in August, September and November 2009.

Newcastle beat Aston Villa 6-0 in their first home game back in the Premier League on August 22nd 2010 (with Andy Carroll netting a hat-trick) and were 9th in the table by the end of October. Sunderland were thrashed 5-1 in the local derby and there was a first win at Arsenal for 5 years. However, following a 3-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on December 5th, Hughton was harshly sacked. Newcastle had won 5 of their first 16 games and were lying in 11th place, 4 points above the relegation zone.

Newcastle's players and supporters were baffled and angered by the decision. Sol Campbell said, "It makes no sense" and campaigners from United For Newcastle organised a protest outside St James' Park the day after Hughton's dismissal praising him and criticising the Toon Army's owner Mike Ashley for the direction he was taking the club in.

Hughton's fellow Premier League managers were also sympathetic. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said, "I can't believe it really. What a fantastic job he's done at Newcastle." Stoke boss Tony Pulis was also unimpressed by the decision. "To win at Arsenal, to beat Sunderland 5-1 and to be treated the way he has been treated is not brilliant really."

How we all wish that David McNally had been as ruthless as the Newcastle board a lot sooner. Hughton's sacking was undoubtedly a tad unfair but under the stewardship of his replacement Alan Pardew the Magpies finished 5th in the Premier League in 2011/12, narrowly missing out on the UEFA Champions League. Pardew was named Premier League Manager Of The Season.

Photo by John Blenkinsopp.