Everton boss David Moyes, the third longest-serving English Premier League manager, expressed astonishment on Saturday at the sacking of Nigel Adkins by Southampton.
Adkins was summarily dismissed on Friday despite having guided Southampton to 15th in the league, three points above the relegation zone, on their return to the Premier League and were on a good run having beaten Aston Villa away and then come from 2-0 down to draw with Chelsea on Wednesday.
Moyes, who will celebrate 11 years in charge in March and is only behind Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson in terms of longevity as a manager of an elite club, will now pit his wits against Saints new manager Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino in on Monday.
“I’m very surprised. I was talking to my staff during the week and complimenting how well Nigel Adkins had done,” said Moyes, whose side are presently fifth in the table three points off a Champions League spot.
“It was always going to be difficult after two promotions. Anybody who does that coming up, it’s a long way up.
“He’d just got himself out of the bottom three and moved up and I don’t think there would have been many people looking at Nigel Adkins to be sacked in that position.”
Moyes, who has attracted praise for the manner in which he has kept Everton competitive despite not having budgets comparable to Chelsea, Manchester City and neighbours Liverpool, said clubs who had kept faith with their managers usually reaped the rewards for doing so.
“I don’t know if we are scratching our heads any more, and that’s probably the football world we’re in. I’m not saying it’s the right one, and I’m not just willing to brush it aside. But that’s the way it looks just now.
“I’m really fortunate and, if you look at the clubs who have kept their managers for longer periods, I think that’s tended to work better than continually changing managers.”
Longserving Moyes stunned by Adkins sacking
