It's hard to sack him, but…

How long can this circus continue?

Photo Credit : Joe Dent / Peterborough United

For too long the quality of football has been awful. 

We seem to be in a state of mass delusion that we’re not bottom of the league, and heading for a rapid unwelcome reunion with League Two.

Being Peterborough United does not mean we cannot be relegated, or that by some good fortune results will eventually pick up on their own.

We need to wake up from that dream and face the nightmare we are living.

A terrible run of games, continuing the form from last season, has us rooted to the bottom of the table after ten games.

Even our usual enjoyment of the Vertu Trophy competition has gone. 

Our multi-million pound squad scraped a win against a team of untested teenagers from an average Aston Villa.

Our 2025/2026 campaign stats make very sorry reading:

• Just seven league points from 30. 

• One league win at home since April. 

• Knocked out of the EFL Cup. 

• Worst points per game in the league, averaging 0.7. 

• Joint worst conceded goals, leaking 18. 

Fergie is on the ropes

Managers are sacked for far less.

It’s crazy that Darren Ferguson's job appears safe despite our obvious trajectory into League Two.

Many fans doubt that he will ever be fired no matter how bad it gets.

Everyone has their limits, including Darragh, so how much longer does he have?

Ferguson won the transfer lottery and was handed a bus-load of new players. These included experienced promotion winners, Championship players, a loanee from Chelsea and a New Zealand international.

Despite that, we only managed to take points off fellow strugglers Wycombe and Plymouth before falling apart against high-flying Lincoln and coming unstuck against teenagers.

Even with the proven quality in the team, our performances lack bite, belief, and conviction.

Worse, we look tactically naive and have no answer for when teams figure us out. Substitutions are often too late and completely ineffective.

Despite having a 30-man squad we often play players out of position to try to get something from a game.

Managers have been sacked for less

There have already been managerial casualties in the EFL:

• Sheffield United's Ruben Selles

• Wycombe's Mike Dodds

Rumours circulate that Blackpool's boss, Steve Bruce, is facing the axe for a similar run of form.

So, what makes Peterborough United different?

Fergie is our king?

Ferguson's previous achievements at the club include:

• Four promotions

• Three EFL Trophy wins

There's no argument that he is the most successful manager Peterborough has ever had.

But even if we put all that aside and focus on this season, it'll take a lot to sack him.

Why? Under chairman Darragh MacAnthony, Ferguson is Peterborough United.

His role at the club extends beyond that of a typical manager as he:

• Sets the club's playing philosophy and identity, which reaches into the academy to ensure that upcoming players have his style imprinted.

• Is entrusted to develop young players into saleable assets, which is critical to the club's finances and future.

• Has an excellent reputation among players, giving the club a strong pull factor when attracting new talent.

Can he be fired?

Darragh will always be reluctant to sack Ferguson as he is part of the DNA and benefits the club beyond tactics and selection.

They have worked closely together for years, forming a strong bond.

His work across the club defines who Peterborough United are, and his impact beyond the first team makes him difficult to replace.

But that's not to say Ferguson will stay.

In 2022, when Peterborough was struggling in the Championship, Ferguson quit, as he felt he couldn't help them avoid the bottom three. He felt he had taken the team as far as he could.

Is he close to leaving again?

Ferguson is in his last year of his contract and cannot be enjoying his time constantly under pressure from fans.

The stadium was half empty on the final whistle against Lincoln, yet the boos could be clearly heard.

As the players walked down the tunnel at half time on Tuesday night, 1800 Posh fans made their feelings clear again.

Players are not responding to his coaching, new signings aren't improving, and his tactics are becoming increasingly desperate.

The 22 minutes that saved his job… for now

There's no doubt in my mind that Darragh was composing his speech for the phone call to Ferguson when Aston Villa scored their second goal on Tuesday night.

Posh looked set to effectively end their participation in a competition we've dominated while still in the group stages and against a bunch of kids.

Bottom of the league and being humbled by teenagers would have surely been enough.

Kyrell Lisbie had other plans and scored a hat-trick in just 22 minutes, offering a stay of execution for Fergie.

On some level, I was disappointed we won the game. It would have put everyone out of their misery when the axe fell.

I suspect that a bad performance at Bolton will either see him walk, or Darragh being forced to make that difficult phone call.

Either way, Ferguson is not doing his legacy any favours by allowing this to continue.

Watch Darragh's response when asked what it would take to fire Fergie in a recent interview

But can the heartbreak of losing him be avoided?

It's clear that Ferguson is important to the club beyond the first team.

If Barry Fry, now 80, were to retire from his beloved Posh, Ferguson would be a perfect candidate for Director of Football.

He would continue to be responsible for the club's footballing philosophy, setting the style across all of the men’s football teams and continue working with Darragh, which has brought the club so much success.

At the same time it would allow a change in the dug out. 

It could open the door to someone to come in with some fresh ideas to drag us out of this mess. 

For now, improvements must come quickly if we are to survive. I hope that is with Ferguson, but the odds of that are lengthening by the day.