The Premier League sack race: Who is next?

Managerial departures were all the rage in the Premier League last week.

It all kicked off when Roberto Di Matteo was relieved of duties by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on Wednesday morning. Then on Friday Queens Park Rangers decided to call time on Mark Hughes's stint at the helm.

Those departures were followed by rumours that Martin O'Neill had resigned as Sunderland manager, although he still remains in charge at the Stadium of Light.

With all that in mind, Sports Mole has assessed which manager could be next to leave his job.

Martin O'Neill

Speculation circulated over the weekend that O'Neill had decided that enough was enough on Wearside. Saturday's 4-2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion meant that the Black Cats have only won once in front of their own supporters this season. Those fans hold a lot of power at Sunderland and they made their feelings known with a chorus of jeers. There were also rumours on Twitter that O'Neill's wife had been taken ill, which could hamper his ability to manage - although it must be stressed that this has just been said on Twitter and it has not been confirmed.

Brian McDermott

As so often happens when a team is promoted into the Premier League from the Championship, said club struggles to adjust at first. That will then sometimes lead to a change in manager as the board seek desperately to stay in with the big boys. Current reports suggest that the same could happen to McDermott at Reading. The club's Russian owners are said to be eager to stay in the top flight and if they don't believe McDermott can deliver that, his days could be numbered.

Roberto Mancini

Win the FA Cup: Check. Win the Premier League title: Check. Win the Champions League: No. It seems mad that a manager who guided Manchester City to their first league title since 1968 can be under pressure, but the fact of the matter is that he is! The Italian himself even admitted that he nearly left in the summer, with the Russian national team said to be extremely interested his services. Having turned City into a domestic force, it is believed that the club's owners want European success, and now! Under Mancini, City's Champions League campaigns have both ended at the group stages. A loss of form at home may very well bring an end to his time at the Etihad Stadium.

Nigel Adkins

Adkins finds himself in a very similar boat to McDermott. The 47-year-old has the unenviable task of keeping the Saints in the Premier League having guided them to two successive promotions. Should results go against him over the Christmas period, what Adkins is likely to have on his side is the support of the club's fans. They have been extremely vocal in their wish for Adkins to stay far this season. Whether that ends up being enough in modern-day football will be revealed in time.

Andre Villas-Boas

The Portuguese coach only took charge of Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, replacing Harry Redknapp. In Redknapp, he took over from a manager who had guided the club to fourth, fifth and fourth-place finishes in the Premier League table. Redknapp also guided the club to the Champions League, where they played the likes of the Milan giants. So, with Spurs showing some inconsistent form this season and currently seventh in the Premier League table, you have to wonder if AVB will be given time to prove his worth.

Sports Mole says: There are arguments for all five gaffers to be given the boot. However, the most likely appears to be O'Neill at Sunderland. The resignation rumours have been rubbished, but there's no smoke without fire. His side entertain Queens Park Rangers tonight - a team that haven't won a game this season. A defeat against Harry Redknapp's men could result in the axe being wielded before we all wake up tomorrow morning.