Alan Hansen: Martin O'Neil's panic sacking means top-class managers risk sack if they do not deliver quickly No one will deny it was a desperate display, but it was against the best team in the country. Even if the Sunderland board were harbouring nagging concerns, it is hard to believe they arrived at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon anticipating the release of their press statement several hours later. Now they are pinning their hopes on a galvanising presence to re-energise their club and at least inject a sense of positivity for their remaining fixtures. That can be the only explanation for turning so swiftly to a charismatic figure such as Paolo Di Canio, but the risk factor is even greater going down this route rather than sticking with what you have got and re-assessing a longer-term strategy over the summer. Such ruthlessness is a consequence of the high-stakes poker game created due to the lucrative TV deal on the immediate horizon. Clubs are worried that if they drop out of the top flight they will not be coming back. You only have to look at the evidence of recent years, those who fell out of the division struggling to challenge for promotion. Interestingly, the evidence suggests those who stand by their manager when they are deep in trouble are as vulnerable as those who press the panic button. Wolverhampton Wanderers sacked Mick McCarthy in the second half of last season and have been in freefall ever since. Blackburn Rovers ,who initially retained Steve Kean, still went down and, as a club, are in turmoil. Bolton Wanderers who also backed Owen Coyle until the start of this season, are also finding it tough in the Championship. The difference in those cases compared to O'Neill is that these clubs were in the bottom three for most of last season. The culture now seems to be boardrooms wanting to act because they fear they are heading towards the relegation zone rather than actually struggling to get out of it. Nigel Adkins lost his job at Southampton having stabilised their situation after a poor start. Again, such decisions must be attributed to the revenue streams that will be lost by going down. For the bottom three after 38 games of the Premier League campaign, the financial repercussions of relegation are greater than ever, which is why it is no longer just those managers who are already in the relegation spots who must fear the worst. When you look at the current table, even the side currently in 10th position, Fulham, will feel they need a couple more wins to guarantee their safety. It is more unpredictable than it has ever been at the bottom, a reflection not of the greater depth of quality in the top division, but a dearth of it. O'Neill is sure to be shocked and hurt by the manner of his departure.Ultimately, for any manager, it comes down to the impact of his signings and not enough of his have delivered. Steven Fletcher was doing all right, and his injury proved even more costly than imagined, but when you look at Adam Johnson and Danny Graham, there is significant investment and not enough return. Johnson left the field after being substituted against United shaking his head, seemingly disagreeing with his manager's decision. Not many of us watching agreed with him. O'Neil's exit shows, you cannot afford a mistake any more. No matter what your reputation or how impressive your CV, if you do not deliver, your chairman will not hesitate to pay you off.