Managers under pressure already - preview of the EFL weekend
August 28, 2026 07:37
After around three weeks of league action, the BBC highlights growing unease among supporters of several EFL clubs as poor starts attract scrutiny. Championship sides including Stoke City, Norwich City and newly relegated Burnley – plus West Ham United in the Premier League narrative covered by the piece – have not calmed those expecting early momentum.
The article flags further concerns elsewhere in the Football League: Plymouth Argyle have begun League One slowly after a costly slow start last season, while League Two outfits Salford City and Gillingham remain stuck in the fourth tier despite heavy summer spending.
KEY CONTEXT
- Stoke have now spent nine consecutive seasons in the Championship since relegation, with a best finish of 14th in that period. A promising position about a third of the way through last season evaporated as they managed only three wins in their final 20 games. Ownership has continued to invest, bringing George Hirst in on a permanent deal and Ben Johnson on a season-long loan from Ipswich.