Jack the Lad: Sticking around?

Loyal Swans fan and website columnist Jack the Lad is hoping that unlike so many managers these days, Carlos Carvalhal is set for a lengthy reign.

When Saturday's opponents West Bromwich Albion parted company with Alan Pardew earlier this week, he became the 44th manager to lose his job this season.

Shortly afterwards, he was followed by Northampton Town's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, bringing the number of casualties in the top four divisions to 45.

Considering there are only 92 managerial jobs available in the English league pyramid, that is a remarkable statistic.

Almost half of all the managers who have been in charge in the Premier League and English Football League this season have left their posts.

Pardew makes it 10 managerial casualties this season in the Premier League, making the 2017-18 campaign the joint highest for departures with 2013-14 – and there are still a couple of months to go!

I was going to say that half the clubs in the Premier League had changed managers since the start of the season, but that wouldn't be true as Pardew was West Brom's second departure this season.

Tony Pulis started this term in charge at The Hawthorns, but was replaced by Pardew in November, meaning the former Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and West Ham manager was at the helm for just 124 days.

How things have changed over the years. Taking a look back at the record books, the Midlands club's longest serving manager was Fred Everiss, who was appointed secretary/manager of the club on August 1, 1902 as a 19-year-old and remained in charge until May 31, 1948!

You could argue he had broken service for the TWO World Wars he served through, but that’s not a bad run by anyone’s standards.

And old Fred wasn’t alone in his marathon one-club managerial career.

George Ramsey was manager of Aston Villa for 42 seasons from 1884, Jack Addenbrooke led Wolves for 37 seasons, starting in 1885, and Frank Watt was in charge of Newcastle United for 35 seasons.

The Swans' longest-serving boss was Haydn Green, who was in charge from 1939 to 1947 which, of course, included the Second World War.

Apart from Green, the next longest serving managers for the Swans were Joe Bradshaw (1919-1926), Bill McCandless 1948-1955 and Trevor Morris (1958-1965), who all lasted seven seasons.

I have no idea how long current Swans manager Carlos Carvalhal will stay at the club but, if he carries on the way he has started, his will hopefully be a long and successful tenure.

He was appointed Swans manager just a month after Pardew took over at West Brom, but their records couldn't be more different.

In Pardew's 18 Premier League matches in charge, West Brom won just once and drew five times, bringing him eight points.

Meanwhile Carvalhal has been in charge for just 11 Premier League matches, winning five and drawing three for an 18-point haul.

I have nothing against West Brom and wish them all the best after this weekend, but I hope Carlos and the Swans can gain another three vital points in the fight for Premier League survival when the two sides meet on Saturday.

C'mon you Swans!