Time to introduce a managerial transfer window?

If you looked at the UK's top 100 companies, and analysed their management structure, we would doubt if more than 10% of any one company moved jobs in a 12 month period, never mind move to a rival company in the same sector. Yet in professional football in England, the rate of change is frightening.

The likes of Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End, Newcastle United and Charlton Athletic make up just some of the clubs who have succumbed to managerial changes this season.

This season aside, in the last 10 seasons there have been no less than 513 managerial changes - or 51.3 per season. Given that there are only 92 clubs in the Premier League and Rugby League combined that represents nearer 60% than 50%.

Contrary to popular belief, that trend has not suddenly escalated - there were 55 changes in 2000/01 and a staggering 75 the following year.

So far this season, the total is 30 - that figure was not reached until 1st March last season - which would suggest there will be more changes this time around - and the likelihood is, that more than the 52 managerial changes for 2009/10 will be surpassed.

Imagine if Tesco saw nearly 60% of their store managers move to Sainsburys, Asda or Morrisons every year. They would be in chaos.

In our opinion this turmoil on the football side can only lead to big negatives within the game as a whole and that affects commercial revenues in the long term.

The LMA - as you would expect from what is effectively the managers