Scolari joins Adams on the managerial scrapheap

Portsmouth have become familiar with being upstaged and this afternoon was no exception with the news of Tony Adams' sacking overshadowed by Chelsea's decision to sack Luiz Felipe Scolari a matter of hours later.

It is, sadly, a sign of the times that we have become accustomed to in recent years with the increasing frequency of managerial changes that is manifesting itself within the top flight. Much has been made of the financial impact that relegation and, in Chelsea's case, the failure to qualify for Champions League football can have on clubs and it is this that has ultimately cost Adams and Scolari their jobs.

Adams had only been in charge of Portsmouth for three months which, even in the current managerial climate, is an extremely short tenure. His predecessor at Pompey, Harry Redknapp, gained 18 points from 13 games before his switch to Tottenham Hotspur. Adams earned 19 in 22 games which goes some way in illustrating the grim situation the FA Cup holders have found themselves in. Hardly stunning form but it is hard not to sympathise with Adams who lost his first choice striker (Jermain Defoe) and his star midfielder (Lassana Diarra) for a total sum of £35m of which only £3m was spent on new players. Adams' record as manager prior to these two sales at the start of the January transfer window was 14 points from 15 games - worse than Redknapp's but not exactly embarrassing.

What proved to be Adams' last game in charge was against Liverpool which, coincidentally, was his first as Portsmouth manager and for anyone who witnessed the dying embers of his managerial stint at Fratton Park will surely extend further sympathy. Having lead 2-1 against Liverpool until five minutes from time it was horrendous defending, bordering on criminal, that cost Portsmouth the game and Adams his job with Pompey eventually losing 3-2.

It is a similar situation that has developed at Chelsea in as much as it seems that the players are immune from any criticism and take no responsibility in their recent run of poor performances which has resulted in the shock sacking of Scolari. The news came two days after Chelsea were held to a goal-less draw at home to Hull City - a game which they should really be winning if they are to claw back ground lost in their title challenge.

Scolari arrived with a big reputation and this came as no surprise having won the World Cup in 2002 as manager of Brazil and having an impressive record as manager of the Portuguese national side. But in Chelsea he was taking on a side which had a collection of players who, on paper, should be world-beaters but, in reality, have failed to sustain the level of performances that saw them win back-to-back league titles under Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager.

Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, has been known to be a fairly erratic chairman in his handling of managers. The departure of Jose Mourinho as Chelsea manager towards the end of 2007 was said to be mutually consented when the reality would suggest Mourinho was sacked by Abramovich following a string of poor, but not terrible, run of results. Sections of the Stamford Bridge crowd were also showing signs of unrest and mocking Mourinho in what proved to be his final matches as Chelsea boss - you can be sure that the same 'fans' were calling for the return of Mourinho in Scolari's last match.

In both scenario's you can't help but notice that it is, ironically, poor management that has cost both Adams and Scolari their jobs - management from the top that is. Tony Adams, although having managerial experience with Wycombe Wanderers, was thrown into an impossible job as he was always going to be compared to Redknapp who, in truth, exceeded all expectations with Portsmouth. To add to his woes, Adams was given a paltry sum of money to spend on new players and it is Portsmouth who have failed Adams as he was not ready to manage a Premiership side at this stage of his career.

And in Chelsea you have a hierarchy who appear to get cold feet when their side under-perform for a couple of games when the simple facts are that Scolari guided them into the knock-out stages of the Champions League, the fifth round of the FA Cup and are by no means out of the title race. How long before Chelsea are longing for the return of Scolari?