The League Managers' Association has described the number of sackings in football this season as "embarrassing", reports BBC Sport. LMA chief executive Richard Bevan said the number of departures is at a five-year high, following Michael Appleton's dismissal by Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday.

In total, 103 managers and coaches have lost their jobs in 2012-13. Bevan said: "It's embarrassing for the game that all of those sackings are unfair dismissals. The volatility is undermining the profession." Appleton became the 32nd manager to be sacked this season, while Gary Smith took the tally to 33 on Wednesday when he was dismissed by League One club Stevenage.

Fourteen managers have resigned from their posts, while another 60 coaches have also been dismissed, the LMA said.

"That's over 100 people, 100 managers, 100 families," Bevan told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"I'm not sure where the arrogance of football comes from that we don't have to behave as any other industry."

Four Premier League managers - Roberto Di Matteo at Chelsea, Brian McDermott at Reading, Nigel Adkins at Southampton and Mark Hughes at QPR - have been sacked this season, but job security further down the Football League seems even more volatile.

In the Championship 17 managers have been dismissed, while in Leagues One and Two there have been a combined total of 26 managerial departures.

Nottingham Forest have appointed three managers since July and last month Paul Ince became Blackpool's third permanent boss of the season.