Patience....

While the FAI still search for an new manager an interesting trend is visible in the Premier League.

As we speak only one of the top ten changed their manager so far this season (Chelsea) and only one other has changed manager in the close season (Manchester City).

The rest have had managers in situ well into their second season or even longer, up to Ferguson and his 21 year reign at Old Trafford.

Does this mean that standing by your man will lead to success?

Well lets look at the bottom half of the table. Seven of them have changed manager this season. With only three to go down at least four of them can say that the change "worked" and relegation was averted.

In fact the three that have stuck with their manager (Middlesbrough, Reading and Sunderland) are all right in the relegation battle and it is feasable that two of them could go down.

Even when relegated it seems staying with your man is best. Bolton stuck with Sam Allardyce and he brought them back up, Birmingham stuck with Steve Bruce and he brought them back up and Aidy Boothroyd looks like he will get Watford back up this season too.

On the whole it seems patience is the biggest virtue a chairman can have. While some are more indecisive than a Green Party member looking at the Lisbon Treaty, those with continued success have stuck with their choice and reaped the reward.

The calls for Roy Keane to come under scrutiny have not started yet. However they are still in the relegation zone with 15 games to go. The next three games include important home games against Birmingham and Wigan, with a trip to Anfield in between. If they come out of those still in the bottom three, and with local rivals Newcastle surfing on a wave of Keegan optimism the knives may start to come out.

I hope that Niall Quinn and the Irish consortium see the big picture and stick with Keane, it would be the brave and correct thing to do.

Unless he wants the Irish job, then let him go Niall. Thanks.