Wigan boss Roberto Martinez believes former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton was a victim of the short sightedness which is rife in modern football. Hughton was sacked on Monday despite winning promotion back to the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt and with the team positioned 12th on a very limited budget.
"Unfortunately I'm not surprised because nothing in football surprises you anymore," said the Latics boss, who himself is trying to implement a long-term strategy at the DW Stadium despite working with the threat of relegation.
"From Chris' point of view, as a manager, you can only do your job and if you look at what he achieved last campaign it is sometimes underestimated what is needed to get back up when you are relegated.
"It is a huge task and I think Chris did that in a great way. I am sure as a manager Chris can be extremely proud of his achievements.
"The delegation of your job is not in your hands but his achievements last season, getting the club back into the Premier League, will be a feat that is remembered forever.
"It is a little bit of a sign of the modern game when too many people look at the short-term project rather than having a longer ambition.
"You have to achieve realistic gains in the short term and then build something towards taking the football club to the next level, but unfortunately these projects are less and less on offer in world football.
"We tend to go to the extremes; everything is rosy and perfect when you win and everything is a disaster when you lose.
"You can only build something with strong foundations and have results and rewards in the long term."
Stoke boss Tony Pulis also had great sympathy for Hughton. He said on Thursday: "I think it's always very disappointing when a manager gets the sack, but it's even more disappointing when a manager has done so well.
"Chris was given a job last year to get Newcastle promoted, and he did it in an absolutely exceptional way. What he achieved was fantastic, and some of the results he has achieved this year have been amazing.
"To win at Arsenal, to beat Sunderland 5-1 and then to be treated the way he's been treated is not brilliant really. Not in my view. It's a poor show really.
"I know Chris very well and he's a smashing lad, and I think he's done a fantastic job there. The job he's done has been exceptional, and I'm so, so disappointed for him because he was a very proud man to be able to say he was manager of Newcastle United which is a great football club.
"There's a way of doing things I think and the way this has been done will leave a very, very sour taste in a lot of people's mouths really."
