Leaving a football club usually happens through a sacking or a resignation, but the journey to departure can take many unexpected turns. Writing for BBC Sport, Tony Pulis reflects on the varied and often harsh ways managers lose their jobs across English football.
Dealing with speculation and sudden exits
Pulis explains that manager departures are not always face-to-face, noting instances of bosses being dismissed over the phone, via text message, or learning of their fate through word of mouth. One of the most demoralizing experiences for a manager is enduring widespread speculation about an imminent dismissal while replacements are actively discussed in the media. Pulis recalls experiencing this prolonged stress firsthand, noting that confidence in the club hierarchy plummets while staff must continue working under contract despite knowing their time is limited.
Some departures bring humorous defiance, such as a manager on gardening leave who watched his former team lose on television while on holiday and mailed a postcard to his chairman saying “wish you were here!” before ultimately being sacked upon returning home. Pulis faced a different shock during his first spell at Stoke City in the summer of 2005. After driving four hours toward pre-season training, his phone rang as he reached the stadium turnoff. The chairman informed him he was no longer manager and instructed him not to enter the grounds because his successor had already arrived, forcing Pulis to turn his car around and drive back home.
The cardboard box and moving on
Reflecting on the precarious nature of the profession, Pulis recalls advice from late manager Frank Burrows, who kept a large empty cardboard box by his desk to quickly sweep up files and family photos whenever he lost a job. Pulis learned this lesson personally when he was dismissed from his hometown club Bournemouth in the summer of 1994 with a year remaining on his contract. Transitioning to unemployment brought struggles with personal finances and seeing his children teased at school, highlighting the harsh reality for managers without alternative qualifications.
Fortunately, not all departures end in acrimony. Pulis praises Peter Coates and his family at Stoke City for handling his 2013 departure with respect and honesty when the club wanted to move in a different direction. A similar mutual understanding occurred with owner Steve Gibson after Pulis finished his 18-month tenure at Middlesbrough following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. After meeting in London once the season ended, both agreed it was a natural time to part ways, leading to a late night out, a missed breakfast the next morning, and a lasting friendship.
