Last in, first out? Why Hull boss is already at risk of the sack

David Moyes is the clear 8/11 favourite in the next Premier League manager to leave market.

However, having survived a run of two points from nine games, and with home clashes against Hull and Leicester and trips to Bournemouth and Swansea in Sunderland’s next six games, there is reason to believe that he has already fought through his darkest days.

Next up is Aitor Karanka at 9/2, yet the Spaniard retains the backing of most Middlesbrough supporters and had his authority at the club verified in March when he walked out of training after a row with players and appeared destined to depart, but was persuaded to stay.

Instead, the price that jumps out in the market is Mike Phelan at 9/1. After all, Hull are on the worst run of any side in the division following five successive defeats and have sunk so fast from third to third-bottom that even a stone would struggle to keep pace.

Yes, he was only hired as manager on a permanent basis earlier this month but, while some think the Tigers would consequently be reluctant to get rid to avoid looking hasty, there is an alternative interpretation: they took three months to confirm his appointment as they doubted his suitability.

And if it was as reluctant a decision as it seemed, those within the club who questioned whether he was good enough will be voicing their viewpoint even louder given that they have been embarrassed 6-1 by Bournemouth and 2-0 by Stoke since.

It isn’t just the losing streak driving fear; it is also the fact that they have conceded 19 goals in the process, compared to three in their first four fixtures, leaving them with a goals-against column five heavier than anyone else in the top flight.

As organisation and resilience was initially their strength, it is deeply troubling, and the manner in which the results have gotten worse as squad depth increases supports the theory that it was a siege mentality rather than coaching or tactical quality which yielded their early success.

As events in the Championship – where five pre-season dugout recruits have been ditched already (Paul Trollope, Alan Stubbs, Nigel Pearson, Roberto Di Matteo and Walter Zenga) – attest this is the year of the hastily reversed summer mistake. Hull may conclude their U-turn even quicker.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.