Birmingham City v Leeds United This week has been sacking week in the Premier League. Daniel Farke was never in danger, having had Leeds United punching above their weight since December.
But the dismissals of Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche by relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest this week were a reminder of how precarious management can be. Dyche was the third manager Forest have sacked this season.
Earlier in the season it could have been Farke, who had to listen to others calling for his head during a run of two wins in 13 games.
Now, the German takes his team to Birmingham City for Sunday's noon FA Cup fourth round tie on the back of two defeats in the next 14.
There might be a few supporters relieved the Leeds board did not follow their advice.
Considering how quickly Leeds have gone through 21st Century managers – 21 allegedly permanent bosses since David O'Leary's departure in 2002 – and the stories, denied by the club, that they were looking at alternatives after Farke secured promotion from the Championship last season, it was not a given.
But Farke speaks of that most valuable commodity for football managers – "a really good, very trustful, very honest relationship."
"It's always important, especially for such a big and such a passionate club,” he argues. “You have the best times in the history (of Leeds United) always when the group of key people is not too big and the key people are on the same page.
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP: Daniel Farke and Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe (Image: Harry Trump/Getty Images)placeholder image
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP: Daniel Farke and Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe (Image: Harry Trump/Getty Images)
"When there are clear responsibilities, when there are the key people on the same page, when the club is united, then this club always had its most successful times.
"When you lead such a passionate club you have to make sure that you're all on the same page and you go into the same direction.
"I've rarely seen a club being successful when four or five times per season you are changing your manager. It's never healthy.
"For the players it's not that easy because everyone has different ideas and different processes."
SACKED: Thomas Frank (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
SACKED: Thomas Frank (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The key, Farke hints, is that when results were not going as Leeds wanted – dropping below his benchmark point-per-game level and into the Premier League relegation zone in November – the suits could see what it was he was trying to achieve.
"You can't bake results or success, but you can judge more or less how you work," he says.
"You can judge if you have the right person (as manager) and then not be too addicted to results because it's football.
"You can sometimes have 35 shots on target and 80 per cent possession. You hit the crossbar six times and the opponent is in your half one time or there is a three-times deflected strike and the ball goes in and you lose the game.
SACKED: Sean Dyche, Nottingham Forest's third manager of the season (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)placeholder image
SACKED: Sean Dyche, Nottingham Forest's third manager of the season (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
"You just have to be convinced that you have the right people in the right positions. If you do so then you also stick together when just one or two percent are missing. This is the relationship that we have.
"When you go into a similar direction you have clear responsibilities, who is responsible for what, then you have a chance in the best league in the world to be successful."
Farke was in the fortunate position that he could pick and choose his next job in the summer of 2023, and the new hierarchy at Elland Road – 49ers Enterprises went from junior to senior boardroom partners – persuaded him to make a move which was not in his plans.
"I was very aware that the season before I signed the contract we had four or five people (Jesse Marsch, caretaker Michael Skubala, Javier Gracia and Sam Allardyce) more or less in my role,” he recalls.
"But I have to say our conversations before I signed the contract were quite clear. We had a clear idea who is responsible for what and what we want to do.
"How much you can pick your owners depends on how desperate you are to sign a contract.
"I had to be convinced first of all to have the conversation because it was never the plan to work again at Championship level. But due to the fact I had worked in England, I know about the potential of Leeds.
"Out of respect, I picked up my mobile phone and a little bit of conviction made me speak face to face. Initially, very respectful, I said, 'Sorry, it's not the right moment for me.'
"But they convinced me with quality conversations."
Although Farke will never win everyone on the terraces over, the strength of that relationship has undeniably worked in the club's favour.