Sven-Goran Eriksson believes English football has adopted the southern European trait of trigger-happy club owners.

Eriksson was dismayed to learn of Sam Allardyce's dismissal by Newcastle yesterday after just 24 games in charge of the Magpies.

Allardyce became the eighth Barclays Premier League managerial casualty of the season and the likelihood is he will not be the last.

Eriksson played a major role in Allardyce's downfall as his Manchester City side beat Newcastle on January 2nd in what proved to be Allardyce's last game at St James' Park. At one point Allardyce was touted as a potential successor to the Swede for the England job.

Prior to City's trip to Tyneside, Eriksson had claimed Allardyce would turn the situation around if he was given time. But owner Mike Ashley chose to ignore the advice, dispensing with his manager's services just three days after an FA Cup draw at Stoke.

And Eriksson believes English club bosses have now become as ruthless and demanding as those in Spain and Italy, who regularly get rid of managers after just a few games.

"I feel sorry for Sam," said Eriksson. "He has only been there for a few months. Normally you would get more time than that before you were sacked, so it is a surprise.

"Football is the same all over the world. If things go wrong, it is difficult to sack the players or the directors. So who gets the sack? The manager. It has always been like that.

"But it happens more often in England today than it did 10 years ago. We are becoming southern European in that way."

Eriksson remains convinced Allardyce would have proved a success at Newcastle if he had been given the opportunity.

"I have no idea what has happened but I did feel, given time, Sam would have solved the situation," he said. "That is what he did at Bolton, so he must be a good manager.

"I have to defend my colleagues, managers should be given more time. But it is nothing new."