Manager Ins and Outs: Early Exits Shake Up 2026-27 Season Across English and Scottish Football

The 2026-27 managerial carousel is well underway across British football, with several clubs making early-season changes in the dugout across the English Football League, Scottish Premiership, and beyond.

Early Departures Across the Leagues

Michael Duff became the first EFL manager to part ways with his club during the 2026-27 campaign after his departure from Wycombe Wanderers on September 8. His exit opened the floodgates for a busy month of managerial shifts.

In Scotland, Glenn Whelan left Scottish Premiership side Livingston on September 7, marking one of the earliest exits of the new season.

September Managerial Exits

The managerial casualties continued to mount throughout September across multiple divisions:

• Glenn Whelan: Livingston (7 September)
• Michael Duff: Wycombe Wanderers (8 September)
• Paul Heckingbottom: Preston North End (13 September)
• Luke Williams: Peterborough United (19 September)
• Lee Clark: Hartlepool United (19 September)

Clubs across the Premier League, Scottish Premiership, Women's Super League, EFL, and National League continue to assess their positions as the pressure intensifies early in the campaign.