STICK or twist? A question that would have been occupying the minds of many chairmen as the international break approached. The hiatus from club football was always likely to provide time for introspection in boardrooms over how the season had started for their teams, and it was no surprise to see that many have decided it was time to be off with their head coaches.

The latest neck on the chopping block was Neil McCann, axed by Dundee after a grim start to the season that had produced just one win and seven defeats. He was the 13th managerial departure in the SPFL this season, meaning 31 per cent of managers have already lost their job. In the past fortnight alone, there were also sackings at Partick Thistle, Airdrieonians and Dumbarton.

But what does such a short-term approach achieve? It is usually either the stench of failure or a whiff of desperation that accompanies news of a manager’s departure, but often the truth is somewhere in between.

There is more than a suggestion that the decision to sack McCann, coming as it did so late in the week, wasn’t solely motivated by the on-field under-performance of McCann’s side.

The club were rumoured to be lining up a choice of their own to come in and “help out” McCann, never a sign that a manager’s future is on a firm footing. The fact that the ghost of managers past, Kenny Miller, had recently shown up, was surely another ominous sign for the former Hearts and Rangers winger.

Whatever the final reasons behind the move though, it is difficult to argue with the final outcome given the bald facts of Dundee’s Premiership predicament. The appointment of Jim McIntyre as his replacement hardly looks like the deployment of a new broom though, so the Dens Park hierarchy presumably think the raw tools are already there in terms of the playing squad.

As for McCann, he may end up back in the game again, but perhaps he will reassess his seemingly permanent war footing with the rest of the world when it comes time to step into the dugout once more.

It was a different situation at Partick Thistle, but the outcome was the same for Alan Archibald. The slow break-up of a 20-year love affair between Archibald and the club was long and painful to watch, with relegation and then the struggle to adapt to chasing the Championship title spelling the end of his five-year reign as boss.

The news was met with a resigned acceptance from supporters that something probably had to be done rather than any great celebration, as well as a gratitude for his service to the club. But now he is gone, there does appear to be a fresh impetus and enthusiasm with the arrival of Gary Caldwell. The new boss may have had his struggles as a manager at Wigan and Chesterfield, but he has a fair bit of experience behind him at the age of just 36. And judging by the cut of his jib at his unveiling, he could be the fresh voice to inject life back into the ailing Jags.

The sacking of Archibald leaves Peterhead manager Jim McInally way out on his own as the country’s longest-serving boss, with his reign now lasting a shade over seven years.

In terms of the top flight, Derek McInnes has performed a minor miracle to still be in favour at Aberdeen after five years there.

These two examples buck the trend of the culture of hiring and firing that is prevalent, and it seems that to achieve longevity in the dugout now requires at least some instant measure of success before being allowed to maintain it. The days of allowing a manager to fail before building something in the long term, a la Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, are long gone. Whether clubs are ultimately any better for the change in tack, is debatable.

On the other hand, while nobody likes to see people lose their jobs, the familiar refrain of fellow coaches and managers making a case for some under-fire boss to be given more time grates with supporters who are paying good money to sit through dross on a weekly basis.

It might indeed be refreshing to see a club stick their neck out and say they are backing a manager to build something more long term for three or four years, come what may, and seeing what can be achieved. But tell that to a Dens Park faithful that must have been contemplating swapping their season tickets for a wee stroll around the V&A of a Saturday.

Either way, the decision to fire or stick by a manager is a gamble. All that is left to do, wherever your own club’s board have decided to stick their money, is wait and see where the cards will fall.

AND ANOTHER THING...

THERE was a welcome break for Scotland supporters this week with the news that tickets for the Albania away match come in at just £8 for adults, which based upon the last two performances, may still stretch the notion of value for money.

Adult prices for Hampden meanwhile in the North and South Stands (the only ones likely to be populated) for the Israel match will set you back £30.

The paltry attendances to date will hopefully inspire a rethink over pricing for the Euro 2020 qualifiers.