Five managers facing the sack

The season may just be two months old, but it has already reached a point in the campaign where a string of managerial changes could be made across all four divisions in England.

There's already been the high-profile departure of Paolo Di Canio from Sunderland, while Nigel Clough and Greg Abbott have been removed from their positions at Football League outfits Derby County and Carlisle United.

Below, Sports Mole picks out five managers that are under pressure to remain in charge at their respective clubs.

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After Fulham manager Martin Jol signed the likes of Scott Parker, Adel Taarabt and Darren Bent during the summer, it was expected that Fulham would be challenging for a position just above mid-table in the Premier League.

However, despite an opening-day success over Sunderland, the Cottagers have endured a frustrating run in the Premier League, picking up just one more point over their next five fixtures.

Their progress has been hindered by their continuing trend of conceding late goals, but it has been enough to earn Jol and his players plenty of criticism from their home supporters.

Fulham did record an impressive win over Everton in the Capital One Cup last week, but if they succumb to Stoke City on Saturday, it might not be enough for the Dutchman to keep his job at Craven Cottage.

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Dougie Freedman arrived at Bolton Wanderers last year with the target of helping the Trotters return to the Premier League at the earliest opportunity.

An encouraging end to the last campaign increased the expectations at the Reebok Stadium, but Bolton have endured a frustrating start to the season.

Freedman's side did well to secure a draw at Burnley in their first game, but a run of four points in nine games sees Bolton sit in 23rd position.

Their solitary win this year has come in the Capital One Cup, and unless Freedman can turn things around, starting at Birmingham City on Saturday, he could find himself being replaced at the club.

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After their relegation from the Championship last year, Sean O'Driscoll was expected to lead Bristol City's challenge at the top of League One.

However, the Robins have endured a disastrous start in their new division, failing to record a victory in their first nine matches.

O'Driscoll's side may have only lost four games, but it has done little to ease the pressure on the former Doncaster Rovers man, who had managed to retain the majority of last season's squad at Ashton Gate.

City face mid-table sides Port Vale and Crawley Town over the next two matches, and O'Driscoll needs a positive result to move his team away from the relegation zone.

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Before accepting his job with Sheffield United, David Weir was interviewed for the Everton managerial role, despite never being placed in charge of a senior squad during his short coaching career.

It underlined his standing within the domestic game and the Blades felt like they had secured a coup by attracting the Scot to Bramall Lane, but things haven't gone the way of the 43-year-old.

The former Rangers defender started with a victory over Notts County, but since that success, Weir has witnessed his new team slump to seven defeats in eight fixtures.

They were unlucky to come away with nothing against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, but Weir needs points on the board if he is to remain in charge of the Sheffield outfit.

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Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd came extremely close to earning promotion for the Cobblers last season, with his side falling short in the League Two playoff final against Bradford City.

Despite the disappointment, it was enough to have supporters believing that their time would come this year, but Town haven't come close to reproducing the form of their last campaign.

Northampton's only victory came during the second week of the season, with just two points being picked up over the following seven games.

They shown improvement in drawing with Morecambe last weekend, but after netting just two goals in their last 540 minutes of fooball, Boothroyd needs his strikers to hit form or else he could soon find himself searching for another job for the fifth time in his career.