Darren Ferguson is one of the best young managers in the country.  His Peterborough side had won two consecutive promotions.  So why have Peterborough decided to sack him just 3 months into the new season?

Ok, so Posh are bottom of the Championship with just 2 wins in 16 games.  But that’s not really the point.

When Ferguson took over, they were in League Two, languishing if you will.  Previous boss Keith Alexander had been sacked after a run of six consecutive defeats.  Here’s what Darragh MacAnthony had to say at the time of Ferguson’s appointment:

We spent nearly a whole day interviewing Darren and feel he is the man to take our club to the next level

They were right, and he did, with back-to-back promotions in his first two full seasons.  All in all, that’s a pretty spectacular achievement for someone just starting out in management.  You might argue that Posh have risen too far too soon – certainly their management seem to be suffering from a sudden attack of the bends.  Ferguson’s reputation has grown to the point where his bosses are now expecting more than the team are able to deliver.

Even if they were to be relegated this season – and that becomes even more likely now – they stand to benefit from a season in the Championship.  They would return to League 1 in a position of strength, and may well have been able to bounce straight back.

Reading were interested in Ferguson in the summer, but Posh refused permission for them to speak, and Ferguson signed a new four year deal.  So what are they doing sacking him just four months later?  What did they expect to happen in the Championship?  Here’s Darragh MacAnthony speaking during the summer:

We’ve got the best young manager in the country, he’s just claimed back-to-back promotions and we have a terrific group of young players

Here he is again a month ago:

Even if the worst was to happen and we get relegated, we’d have a manager who knows how to get out of League One…We have a plan and a policy and people need to remember that – this football club won’t be relegated and I won’t be panicking.

Didn’t take him long to change his mind, did it?  Either he is just a big fool who is all mouth and no trousers, or you start to get the sense that there is something else going on behind the scenes. The usual rumours of rows and rifts are circulating, but it is unlikely that we will ever know the real reasons.

In the meantime, Barry Fry will likely step in whilst a new manager is found.  The rest of the season looks like being a real slog for Posh fans.  Let’s hope that there is no significant long term damage.