Six managers lose their job in Premier League

Before the start of the season, West Ham United sacked manager Gianfranco Zola and appointed Avram Grant, formerly of Portsmouth, as his successor.

In the same period, Rafael Benitez was dismissed by Liverpool who, almost 25 days later, handed the manager’s job to ex-Fulham boss Roy Hodgson. Mark Hughes, formerly of Manchester City, replaced Hodgson at Craven Cottage.

The total of managerial casualties in the Premier League this season stands at six, one up on the previous term. The other three changes were:

Aston Villa − Gerard Houllier for Martin O’Neill.

Newcastle − Alan Pardew for Chris Hughton.

Blackburn − Steve Kean for Sam Allardyce.

Other football news of interest for December:

• Manchester City beat Salzburg 3-0 at Eastlands in a group qualifier from the Europa League. Liverpool draw 1-1 away with Steaua in Bucharest.

• Ipswich Town shock Premier League side West Brom 1-0 at Portman Road in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

• Bolton pair, Owen Coyle and striker Johan Elmander, win the Premier League manager and player of the month awards, respectively, in November.

• Newcastle sack manager Chris Hughton.

• All four English teams qualify for the knock-out stage of the Champions League with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham topping their groups − Twente-Tottenham 3-3, Manchester United-Valencia 1-1, Marseille-Chelsea 1-0, Arsenal-Partizan Belgrade 3-1. After their 1-1 draw in Bursaspor, Rangers move into the Europa League as they finish third in their group.

• In an FA Cup second round replay, Swindon Town go down at home to non-League Crawley 2-3.

• Alan Pardew is the new Newcastle manager.

• Alan Brown leaves Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League and takes over at rivals Aberdeen.

• Gary Speed quits his manager job at Sheffield United to fill the vacant post as national coach of Wales.

• Blackburn axe manager Sam Allardyce and promote his assistant Steve Kean until the end of the season.

• Manchester United set a new club record of 16 Premier League matches without defeat since the start of a new season.

• Liverpool and Manchester City, having both qualified to the knock-out phase of the Europa League, draw their final matches − Liverpool-Utrecht 0-0, Juventus-Manchester City 1-1.

• Manchester City and Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan is voted 2010 BBC African Player of the year.

• Former England and Tottenham midfielder Ralph Coates dies, aged 64.

• Alex Ferguson becomes Manchester United’s longest serving club manager as he celebrates his 24 years, 1 month and 14 days at Old Trafford, to surpass the legendary Sir Matt Busby.

• Former England captain David Beckham, having earned more than 100 caps, receives BBC Sport Personality Life Achievement award.

• The FA confirms that its top board has approved the nomination of former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein as the organisation’s new head.

• Championship sides Burnley and Preston dismiss managers Brian Laws and Darren Ferguson respectively.

• Liverpool’s total of 22 points after their home upset to Wolves (0-1) is the lowest tally heading into the New Year since 1953-54 − when Don Welsh’s side was relegated.

• World Cup referee Howard Webb is awarded an MBE in the New Year honours’ list.

Average attendances
01. Manchester United - 75,059
02. Arsenal - 60,030
03. Manchester City - 46,209
04. Newcastle United - 45,978
05. Liverpool - 42,677
06. Chelsea - 41,521
07. Sunderland - 38,342
08. Aston Villa - 37,417
09. Everton - 36,668
10. West Ham United - 33,336
11. Tottenham Hotspur - 31,793
12. Wolves - 26,973
13. Stoke City - 26,779
14. Fulham - 25,087
15. Birmingham City - 24,688
16. West Bromwich - 23,683
17. Blackburn Rovers - 23,658
18. Bolton Wanderers - 22,594
19. Blackpool - 15,795
20. Wigan Athletic - 15,675