'Sacking is a part of the job'

Manchester United manager David Moyes considers himself lucky to have managed three clubs prepared to stand by him during tough spells after Andre Villas-Boas became the fifth Premier League manager to lose his job this season.

Villas-Boas was dismissed by Tottenham two days after West Bromwich Albion put Steve Clarke on gardening leave, while there is growing uncertainty over the future of Cardiff's Malky Mackay following a worsening relationship with club owner Vincent Tan.

Moyes, in contrast, is under no internal pressure at Old Trafford despite a difficult start to his first season in charge. The Scot, who succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, has been assured of the time he needs to make a success of the job, just as he had at Preston and Everton.

"It makes me realise how lucky I have been at the clubs I have been at," said Moyes. "I worked for great people at Preston, great people at Everton and my short experience at Manchester United tells me I am working for really good people here.

"Maybe some of the other managers haven't been as fortunate as I have."

Clarke was axed just seven months after leading West Brom to their highest finish of the Premier League era, while Villas-Boas has been given just over three months to prove the value of a £100million outlay following the departure of Gareth Bale.

With Paolo Di Canio, Ian Holloway and Martin Jol having all been replaced before Christmas, one quarter of the Premier League teams have made a change at the top. Moyes cannot understand the ethos behind this instability.

"I am a great advocate of managers," Moyes added. "I want managers to be given opportunities. I am involved with the LMA [League Managers Association]. We are saying the best clubs have had stability.

"Look at Arsene Wenger, the stability he has given Arsenal, Sir Alex at United and even what happened to myself at Everton.

"Obviously the owners and chairman have their own reasons but the clubs who have given the managers that period of time have benefited.

"The more we see it, it might help clubs gain a bit more control and stability. In turn it might mean they are not hiring and firing managers quite so often."

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