After the worst start in the history of the club Tottenham Hotspurs sacked Juande Ramos and replaced him with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, who managed to halt the slide at least then. Spurs had to compensate both Ramos and the Fratton Park outfit just a year after having to compensate sacked manager Martin Jol and Ramos' employers, Sevilla. Meanwhile, Paul Ince, then the only black manager in the Premiership, brought his under-performing Blackburn Rovers side, which had failed to win in seven league matches, to White Hart Lane, but the lack of results ultimately cost him his job and saw Sam Allardyce return to management after his disastrous spell at Newcastle last season.

The Writing On The Wall (Part Two)

Paul Ince had enjoyed successful spells managing Macclesfield and Milton Keynes Dons before making the step up to his first job in the Premiership with Blackburn Rovers due to the departure of Mark Hughes to high-spending Manchester City. Results were not going his way and despite his optimistic outlook that his team was playing well and that results would come soon, the pressure was rising to a crescendo. Martin Olsson's sending off had made a difficult task harder, but the left-back had been embarrassed by Aaron Lennon, who had demonstrated what he could achieve when he adds end-product to his pace and ability. Ince had to make changes at half-time and did. South African striker Benni McCarthy was replaced by Danny Simpson and before long the dangerous Lennon was flattened by Morten Gamst Pedersen, but Howard Webb declined to take further action.