Managerial casualties of the 2014/2015 season so far

Tony Pulis was manager of the year but he's already gone.

The sack race has become part of football culture and we have only just turned the calendar over to October, yet the P45's are already piling up.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is a man under severe pressure after a disastrous start to the season.

Following Monday night's defeat at Stoke, Pardew admitted he would be having "some serious conversations" with owner Mike Ashley this week.

The Toon boss looks set to survive long enough to take charge of Saturday's trip to Swansea.

As always in the volatile world of club management, some have not been so lucky.

We review some of this season's managerial casualties to date.

Incredibly, the only man to vacate his position in the Premier League thus far was last season's Manager of the Year, Tony Pulis.

Having steered Palace away from relegation in a remarkable turnaround after taking over from Ian Holloway last November, Pulis was lauded by peers and pundits alike for his work at Selhurst Park.

On the eve of the new season, Palace fans were stunned to learn their manager had left by mutual consent following showdown talks with co-chairman Steve Parish in London.

Pulis had voiced major concerns over a frustrating summer in the transfer market as he watched the club miss out on key targets such as Gylfi Sigurdsson and Steven Caulker.

It was a sad end to what had been something of a fairytale for Pulis in South London.

Bottom of the table with just one win from their eleven games when he took over, the former Stoke boss appeared to wave a magic wand.

His side won three of their next four games before a superb run of five consecutive wins during March and April ensured top-flight football for this season.

Palace turned to former boss Neil Warnock and the Eagles have certainly prospered on his return, unbeaten in four league outings and into the top half of the table courtesy of back-to-back wins against Everton and Leicester.

Pardew is heavily touted to be next to vacate his post in the top tier.

Winless in their opening six games, the Newcastle supporters appear to have had enough. Pressure is intensifying on Ashley to sack his manager.

Defeat at the Liberty Stadium this weekend could seal his fate.

Life has been much less smooth running for bosses in the Championship.

Watford appointed Oscar Garcia on September 2 but ill health caused the Spaniard to step down after just 27 days - and one game - in charge.

Billy McKinlay took charge of the Hornets admitting it was with "mixed emotions" he took the post after Garcia brought him to the club.

The on-going trials and tribulations of Leeds United continued in September with Dave Hockaday departing Elland Road.

Owner Massimo Cellino has appointed former Sturm Graz coach Darko Milanic as the latest man tasked with returning the fallen giants to the Premier League elite.

Fulham continued their personal managerial merry-go-round by sacking Felix Magath on September 18.

The German became Fulham's third manager of the 2013-14 season following the dismissals of Martin Jol and Rene Meulensteen but was not able to preserve their top-flight status.

With the Craven Cottage club loitering at the foot of the Championship, Magath was relieved of his duties. Kit Symons has assumed caretaker control.

Cardiff City joined Fulham in dropping out of the big time last May and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw his reign end after just eight months in the wake of a poor start to the season.

Owner Vincent Tan is developing a notorious ruthless streak in relation to his managers and having quit his post at Leyton Orient, Russell Slade appears most likely to be next to try his luck in the Welsh capital.

The demand for instant gratification continues in England's top tiers, meaning the role of manager continues to carry little in the way of job security.

Pardew is in danger of breaking some very thin ice this week.