Scott Parker Joins Exclusive Club of Premier League Managers Sacked Late in Season

Burnley decided against waiting until the season's denouement to part ways with Scott Parker, though his exit does slot neatly into a rather ignominious timeline of late-season managerial departures in the Premier League's history.

For the record to be broken, it would take Liverpool or Newcastle making the drastic call to dismiss Arne Slot or Eddie Howe during half-time on the final day. Until then, the bar remains set by two managers who've been shown the exit before their campaign's concluding fixture.

Scott Parker - Burnley, April 2026 (4 games remaining)

Many expected Parker to remain at Clarets helm as the architect of their Championship resurrection, yet Burnley evidently fancied a bigger name and have turned their attentions to Steven Gerrard in the immediate aftermath of their top-flight relegation being confirmed.

Both parties have dressed it up as a mutual parting, with Parker's statement reading: "I have enjoyed every moment of our journey together, but feel that now is the right time for both parties to move in a different direction."

His next destination will almost certainly be another Championship outfit harbouring Premier League ambitions for next season.

David Moyes - Manchester United, April 2014 (4 games remaining)

A mere ten months into what was supposed to be a lengthy tenure, and having patently failed to move the needle at Old Trafford across passing, chance creation and defensive solidity, Moyes was relieved of his duties.

Once Champions League football became mathematically unattainable following a defeat at Goodison Park, the Chosen One's fate was sealed. Whoever negotiated a break clause into his six-year contract—one that limited his severance to just twelve months—deserves considerable credit for that piece of business.

Ryan Giggs stepped in for the final quartet of matches and managed to inflict lasting damage on his own managerial prospects at the club by losing at home to Gus Poyet's Sunderland.

Javi Gracia - Leeds United, May 2023 (4 games remaining)

Leeds have never panicked with the sheer abandon they displayed a few years back, and not enough is said about allowing a throwaway comment made on a podcast to dictate their Premier League survival strategy.

"I'd have thought by now if they were interested in me they know where I am, so call me," Sam Allardyce remarked in February 2023, continuing: "I wouldn't see any problem sorting them out, from my point of view with my experience."

Leeds went with Gracia instead initially, the Spanish tactician managing a 14th-place finish in the table of results during his brief spell, inheriting a side in 19th and departing with them in 17th.

The reasoning behind Allardyce subsequently being tasked with salvaging the situation remains utterly baffling. It ranks among football's most bewildering failed rescue missions.

Egil Olsen - Wimbledon, May 2000 (2 games remaining)

"I thought I would see out the season," Olsen reflected afterwards, "but there has been disloyalty from players. The comments from Joe Kinnear didn't help my case. I would never do what he did and criticise a manager before a crucial game."

Kinnear's criticism was hardly gentle, suggesting his predecessor had "either left out or sold too many experienced players" whilst attempting to reshape the culture and implement his rigid system.

The Norwegian may have had a legitimate grievance regarding player commitment, though.

John Hartson, their record purchase, openly stated it was "well publicised that not everyone gets on with the manager" owing to "the way he works and some of the things he does, his attitude at times and his laid-back approach," and predicted "there will be big changes in the summer in terms of a manager"—all while Olsen remained in post.

Wimbledon cut ties following a 3-0 hammering by Bradford that left them in the drop zone. Terry Burton was appointed to resurrect the Crazy Gang ethos, but draws and defeats in their final two outings proved insufficient to prevent the club's relegation.

Roberto Mancini - Manchester City, May 2013 (2 games remaining)

City had pencilled in an end-of-season debrief with Mancini in Abu Dhabi, though defeat to relegated Wigan in the FA Cup final accelerated matters considerably.

The club opted to air their findings publicly, stating they had "failed to achieve any" targets beyond Champions League qualification and desired a more "holistic approach" going forward.

The subtext was clear: Mancini had alienated the hierarchy, and City would prefer a manager less inclined to do likewise. Brian Kidd managed the final two fixtures (recording one win and one loss) before Manuel Pellegrini's appointment became official.

Nigel Pearson - Watford, July 2020 (2 games remaining)

The decision appeared extraordinarily harsh at the time, given Pearson inherited a Watford side seven points adrift at the bottom in December, claimed scalps against Manchester United, halted Liverpool's unbeaten run five matches shy of the Invincibles record, and navigated them through pandemic chaos before departing three points clear of the relegation zone with two matches outstanding.

Then again, this was Nigel Pearson, and he'd probably strangled someone in training, called them an ostrich, or offered some particularly creative profanities—all whilst wrestling with a pack of feral canines.

Viewed through that lens, getting relegated with Hayden Mullins seemed the preferable option.

Avram Grant - West Ham United, May 2011 (1 game remaining)

Within moments of West Ham's defeat at Wigan that confirmed their descent to the Championship for the first time in six years, Grant found himself ushered into a spare room at the DW Stadium and informed of his dismissal.

The playing squad only discovered the news when Grant boarded the team coach to collect his possessions, a taxi standing by to remove him from the building. Captain Scott Parker subsequently lobbied the ownership, suggesting their former manager might at least deserve a seat alongside Mark Noble on the journey home.

Kevin Keen took charge for the Hammers' final day and endured the most sobering of Premier League farewells: a 3-0 home defeat to Steve Bruce's side.

Roberto Martinez - Everton, May 2016 (1 game remaining)

Everton chose to spare Martinez further suffering rather than expose him to what threatened to be a venomous Goodison Park reception on the final day of 2016—possibly influenced by outside counsel.

The Toffees had managed just one victory in their previous ten top-flight matches, and the fanbase had turned decidedly toxic; bare seats, anti-Martinez banners and chants became commonplace throughout their cascade of defeats.

A lap of honour against Norwich in place of that final fixture required someone genuinely convinced that managing Everton represented "one of the top jobs in the world". They simply don't produce characters like David Unsworth anymore.