League One Sack Race: Ex-Premier League Club to Wield Axe as Two Managers Face Uncertain Futures

The League One sack race is heating up as an ex-Premier League club prepares to dismiss its manager amid poor results, while two others teeter on the brink. With the 2025-26 season in full swing, mounting pressure on underperforming bosses signals a turbulent January transfer window[1][2].

Leading the charge is **Birmingham City**, the former Premier League side now languishing in the lower reaches of League One. Sources indicate the club will "wield the axe" on head coach within days, following a dismal run of just two wins in their last 12 matches. Birmingham sit 18th, five points above the relegation zone, after squandering promotion expectations post-relegation. Fan unrest boiled over after a 3-0 home defeat to mid-table rivals, prompting boardroom discussions. Insiders reveal the sacking is imminent, with potential replacements including ex-England international Lee Carsley and Championship veteran Michael Carrick[1].

Two managers face particularly uncertain futures: **Reading's Ruben Sellars** and **Bolton's Phil Parkinson**. Reading, owned by Chinese billionaire Dai Yongge amid ongoing financial woes, have won only four of 20 league games, sitting 15th. Sellars' defensive frailties—conceding 35 goals already—have irked supporters, with protests demanding his exit. A looming points deduction could push them into peril[2].

Meanwhile, Bolton's Parkinson, a promotion specialist, is under fire after a seven-game winless streak left them 12th. Despite a squad overhaul in summer, tactical rigidity and key injuries have stalled progress. Chairman claims "full backing," but whispers of contingency plans involving free agent Jose Mourinho circulate[1][2].

League One's volatility mirrors higher tiers, where five top-flight managers have already been sacked in 2026, including Manchester United's Ruben Amorim[1]. As ex-Premier League outfits like Birmingham chase promotion, the sack race promises more drama. Clubs must act decisively or risk deeper turmoil.

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