Everton manager Roberto Martinez has defended former club Swansea over accusations they sacked Garry Monk without a plan for his replacement.
The South Wales club have earned a reputation for being well-run under chairman Hew Jenkins, who appointed Martinez back in 2007, but appeared to lose their way briefly after Monk was dismissed in early December.
A fruitless trip to South America failed to persuade Marcelo Bielsa to move to the Barclays Premier League and under Alan Curtis's caretaker stint they picked up just five points from six matches before finally appointing former Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin as head coach on Monday.
Criticism was beginning to grow around the way the transition had been handled, but Martinez felt the Swans approached it in the right way.
"I wouldn't agree that you have to follow a plan in order to change a manager," he said ahead of Sunday's visit of his former club.
"It was an honest decision which they felt they needed to make and then went into a process to try to identify the new man.
"I don't think that is wrong. I feel it is wrong when you are in your job and you feel the club is moving actively to replace the man who is taking the team to win a game.
"If you are asking me I prefer a football club who identify a problem, act and then move into step two.
"I don't think it is correct from a human values point of view that you replace a manager before you get rid of the current one - I don't think that is right at all."
Four men have been in charge of Swansea in less than two years - Michael Laudrup, Monk, Curtis and now Guidolin.
Martinez believes that may have contributed to them struggling in the Premier League this season.
"If you are asking me what way of managing is more effective it is when you have continuity," said the Toffees boss.
"In the modern game we are inclined to chop and change and not have too much of a path for teams to develop.
"I think it is a real shame but I am sure it will turn around and go back to the most effective manner, which is supporting a manager and understanding how difficult winning games on a consistent basis is."
Martinez's Everton have shown just how difficult it is to win regularly in the league.
They have just one victory in the last nine matches, having scored in the 90th minute and then conceded an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time twice - against Bournemouth and last weekend at Chelsea.
As a result the Toffees boss will not take their struggling opponents for granted.
"We know they are going to be really difficult and a dangerous team and we will have to be at our very best just to cope with the effect a new manager can have in the dressing room," he added.
Source: PA
