Former Manchester United and Aston Villa defender Paul McGrath is surprised by the lack of managerial sackings in the Premier League.

McGrath wrote in the Sunday World: "Neil Warnock (Crystal Palace) and Alan Irvine (West Brom) were the only bosses fired, since Alan Pardew left Newcastle United voluntarily to take the Palace job. That Christmas period is now the one where panicking club Chairmen pull the trigger if things are not going well.

"The thinking is that you get a new man in then and give him the four weeks of January to come to grips with his new club and allow the boss to get in a player or two in the transfer window.

"It's no good firing your manager in mid-February, when the new appointment will only have the same players to work with who have got you into the current difficulties.

" "I hate talking about anyone losing their job, but given the money involved in staying in the top flight of English football, I'm just a little bit surprised that more Chairmen didn't make a move ten days ago.

"Perhaps the top men at Leicester City and Burnley are realistic enough to know that it will be a fantastic achievement for clubs with such small budgets to stay up - and that they may as well go back down to the Championship with the man who brought them to the big dance."