EFL preview: Managers under pressure as weekend fixtures approach
Several English Football League managers face increased scrutiny ahead of the weekend's EFL fixtures, with recent departures and poor runs of form piling pressure on bosses at clubs including Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers, the BBC reported on 23 October 2026.
Over the past 48 hours Crawley Town's Colin Kazim-Richards and Bromley boss Andy Woodman — the third longest-serving manager in the 92 — have left their posts, and a number of teams are struggling as the season passes its opening quarter. Only Preston (24) have conceded more goals in the Championship than Norwich (21) so far this season. After Philippe Clement took over at Carrow Road last November, only four teams picked up more points in the Championship than the Canaries (56) through the remainder of the 2025-26 season, when Norwich recovered from bottom to finish ninth; they have since lost five straight league matches and sit 21st on nine points from 11 games, one point and one place better off than at the same stage last season under Liam Manning, who was sacked after four consecutive losses. Norwich have already lost almost as many times under Philippe Clement this season in 11 games than they did in 31 matches last season.
Former Hull City striker Aaron McLean spoke of his surprise at Norwich's form, saying, "I've got egg on my face because they were my wild promotion pick so I'm as surprised as anyone that they're doing so badly. I thought the job Clement did when he came in last year was incredible and I really fancied them to kick on this season and not only challenge for the play-offs, but challenge for automatic promotion and be right up there. "They've just been so disappointing and they look void of any confidence at the moment. I don't know where they go from here." Norwich also lost striker Mohamed Toure — who had scored five goals in seven league games — to a shoulder injury that will keep him out for several months. "It's my task to stay calm in the frustration because if everybody starts to panic, we are not going to have the season we want," Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk. "There are still 35 games to play." Norwich travel to Charlton Athletic on Saturday (12:30 BST); the Addicks have gone eight matches without victory since winning their opening three (D5 L3), remain unbeaten at The Valley and have conceded just twice at home.
Cardiff City, promoted to the Championship last season, have taken a win and a draw from their past two league games — the victory a 5-1 win over Watford and the draw at promotion favourites Middlesbrough — and have moved to 19th, three points clear of danger after winning two of their past four league matches, their only two wins of the campaign so far. Brian Barry-Murphy's side host in-form Birmingham City on Saturday (15:00 BST); Birmingham have won three in a row, are unbeaten in five (W4 D1) and sit fourth, two points off the automatic promotion places, with their manager Chris Davies having previously been a Swansea City coach.
Stockport County sit top of League One after four successive wins, a rise from ninth five weeks ago under new manager Jimmy McNulty following Dave Challinor's departure after almost five years in charge. County finished third but missed out in the play-offs in the two seasons under Challinor. Kyle Wootton has scored nine goals in 11 games for Stockport and has netted in his past four. Stockport visit 18th-placed Notts County on Saturday (15:00 BST); Notts County ended a four-game losing run with a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.
Sheffield Wednesday have slipped from top to seventh in League One after recording one win in their past five matches (D3 L1), with some supporters calling for manager Henrik Pedersen to leave during Tuesday's 2-0 defeat by newly-promoted Notts County. "You might look at the table and say this is harsh," said BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton. "No, this is just life at Sheffield Wednesday in League One. Just as it was in the past for other Owls managers, or anyone else managing a club of this size in the third tier. "The odd bad result isn't a surprise when you have to rebuild the whole squad in a summer. But Wednesday simply can't keep playing as poorly as they are." Wednesday travel to local rivals Doncaster Rovers on Saturday (15:00 BST); Doncaster sit 19th and are only above the drop zone on goal difference.
Expectations for Bristol Rovers have tumbled after a run of one win from seven league games, including four successive defeats, left the Gas 16th in League Two following an opening sequence of four wins in five. Steve Evans, who took over in December 2025 and saved the club from relegation last season, had amassed a run of 15 wins from 19 league matches in charge before the recent slump. "It's causing a lot sleepless nights," Evans told BBC Radio Bristol, adding that he has been having phone conversations with his assistant Paul Raynor at 3am. "[But] let's not get carried away with stats. We will bounce back for sure." Rovers host Swindon Town, managed by Ian Holloway, on Saturday; Swindon are level on 15 points with Rovers and sit one place above them on goal difference, having ended an eight-match winless run by beating second-placed Barnet 3-1 on Tuesday.
BBC Sport will provide live text coverage of the weekend's EFL action, beginning with Bolton v Middlesbrough at 20:00 BST on Friday and continuing across the Championship, League One and League Two on Saturday.
