January is the season for New Year’s resolutions, sales and sackings – it would seem. January has seen Darren Ferguson & Brian Lawes depart from Preston North End and Burnley respectively in the Championship. Poor form from their sides has seen managers Carlo Ancelotti, Roy Hodgson and Avram Grant come under monumental pressure, however still they find themselves in their jobs, for now.
NFL franchise chiefs have shown a cut throat attitude now that the regular season is over. Mike Singletary was fired by the San Francisco 49ers after a 25-17 to the St Louis Rams saw them miss out on the play-offs for the eighth consecutive year. Eric Mangini, after just his second season in charge was disposed of by the Cleveland Browns after guiding the franchise to a second straight 5-11 season.
In rugby union Sale Sharks academy coach saw the head coaching role handed to him following the sacking of ex-New Zealand international Mike Brewer. His departure came after just seven months since taking over from Jason Robinson.
Having struggled to 10th in the Aviva Premiership the Sharks won just three out of their nine fixtures under Brewer’s tenure. The clubs unlikelihood with regard to their progression in the Amlin Challenge Cup was also cited as a reason for him being shown the door.
Therefore, having seen London Irish slump to a ninth straight defeat in all competitions it begs the question; is Toby Booth the luckiest man in world sport to still have a job?
Irish’s last win came at the very end of October, beating Sale Sharks 39-26 at the Madejski. Since then Booth’s side have lost two LV=Cup games, five in Aviva Premiership and the Heineken Cup double header with the Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon.
Having said this however the Reading based club still find themselves as play-off contenders, trailing Wasps by just two points. Having said this however Irish look more like relegation fighters rather than championship contenders.
The Exiles came within seconds of ending their baron run of form last weekend at home to Bath, leading for much of the contest only to gift Olly Barkley with the chance to snatch the game with a penalty from in front of the posts.
Booth could only describe a feeling of disbelief after the final whistle. “When you score three tries and concede one you expect to win the game.”
“I have got a dressing room full of people in disbelief. I felt we did enough to win the game but we didn’t. Discipline cost us the game.”
London Irish will hope to turn things round in their first game of 2011 as they visit Gavin Henson’s Saracens. Although the Exiles are exhibiting form worthy of relegation fighters Booth insists his side will not stop playing the attacking rugby that has become their trademark.
“If I say ‘kick the corners, let’s not run the ball’, we are making ourselves get narrower and tighter and before long we have nothing left. That is why you have to be positive in everything you do. With the right attitude and effort things will come good for you.”
Sale Sharks turned things around against Saracens last week to claim just their fourth Aviva Premiership win of the season. London Irish will hope to do the same at Vicarage Road on Sunday in an effort to avoid their 10th consecutive loss.
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