YORK City boss Billy McEwan has called for all football clubs to show more patience before getting rid of their managers.

Some 16 Championship clubs have changed manager since the end of last season.

Those managerial upheavals continued last night when Iain Dowie left Premiership strugglers Charlton after only 15 games in charge.

High-profile names such as Paul Hart, Frank Gray and John Hollins have also lost their jobs at Conference level and McEwan feels it is time for the situation to stop.

Hart and Gray were only appointed in their respective jobs at Rushden and Diamonds and Grays Athletic this summer.

City, meanwhile, have enjoyed an upturn in their fortunes during the 21 months of McEwan's reign and the forthright Scotsman believes club owners should value continuity ahead of short-term fixes.

He said: "It's ridiculous that 16 Championship clubs have changed their managers since last season. All these clubs think sacking the manager is the only answer, but then why did they appoint them in the first place?

"This is not a new phenomenon however. It has been going on for years.

"Bruce Rioch was once sacked a week before the start of the season.

"I think you've really got to stick by them through thick and thin and give them time. I said when I came to York that it would take three or four years to sort the club out on the playing side and I never expected to get promotion in the first year.

"Some clubs think there is a magic formula and chop and change the manager to find it, but the only magic formula is hard work with good people you can trust.

"Frank Gray lost his job at Grays last month after they got knocked out of the cup. Is he a bad manager because he lost a cup match?

"Look at Sir Alex Ferguson - on that logic, he should be out of a job because they lost to Southend. It's only because he's got 20 years experience at Man United that they can't get rid of him."

City have confirmed Wednesday, November 22 as the date for their second round FA Youth Cup home tie with Chester City.

As a result, the reserves' home game against Rotherham, scheduled for KitKat Crescent on the previous night, has now been switched to Millmoor.