More than 200 managers and coaching staff were dismissed across English football last season, with the League Managers Association (LMA) warning that a pervasive "hire and fire culture" is damaging the profession at its core.

LMA chief executive Richard Bevan made the comments on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, pointing to statistics showing that managers in the top two divisions of men's football are now lasting shorter periods in their roles than at any point in the association's recorded history.

Premier League tenure at record low

Nine managers were dismissed in the Premier League last season, with the average tenure for those sacked standing at just 0.87 years — the shortest figure since the LMA began tracking data from the 2013-14 campaign.

The instability was particularly stark at several clubs. Nottingham Forest cycled through four permanent head coaches, while Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea each appointed three managers during the same period.

The Championship fared no better. Its dismissed managers averaged a tenure of just 0.74 years — also the lowest figure on LMA record — with Bevan noting that "time is not a commodity afforded to Championship managers." Of the 22 managerial movements in the second tier, 13 were outright sackings.

Across the top four men's professional leagues combined, 51 dismissals were recorded — the fourth-highest single-season total in the past 20 years. More than 150 coaches also lost their positions over the course of the campaign.

Stability as a recipe for success

Bevan drew a sharp contrast between clubs that habitually change managers and those that commit to long-term appointments. He cited Manchester City, Arsenal, Bournemouth, and Newcastle United as models of a more patient approach.

"When you look at short-termism, compare it to the way Man City, Arsenal, Bournemouth, Newcastle ... many other clubs look at investing time and trust in their managers. Longevity to managers — the same in many industries — it's the best recipe for success," Bevan said.

Arsenal claimed their first Premier League title in 22 years this season, with Mikel Arteta in his seventh campaign as head coach. Pep Guardiola departed Manchester City having won 17 major trophies across 10 years at the club. Andoni Iraola left Bournemouth after three seasons that culminated in the Cherries qualifying for European competition for the first time, while Eddie Howe has overseen a largely successful near five-year tenure at Newcastle United despite a difficult recent campaign.

It is worth noting that the LMA defines dismissals specifically as sackings. Iraola and Guardiola, whose departures were contract-related rather than terminations, are excluded from the average tenure figures. Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and ex-Burnley head coach Scott Parker also fall outside the statistics after parting ways with their clubs by mutual consent.

Women's game shows greater stability

The Women's Super League recorded five managerial sackings last season, with an average tenure of 2.12 years for those dismissed — significantly higher than in the men's top flight. In the second tier of the women's game, four managers lost their positions, with an average tenure of 4.14 years.

Bevan attributed the accelerating turnover in men's football to a combination of greater financial stakes, mounting pressure from fans on social media, and club owners acting to protect their financial investments.

"Certainly in my 18-19 years the hire and fire culture that's ever-present definitely undermines the profession," he said.