LONDON -- For his first managerial job, Jaap Stam hasnt taken an easy option.A Premier League and Champions League winner as a Manchester United player , the Dutchman has entered the dugout in a league with little job security and where the financial stakes are among the highest in soccer.Looking around the League Championship, English soccers second tier, the Reading manager knows his illustrious playing career will count for little if theres a slump in form.Six of the leagues 24 managers have been fired this month as clubs chase a place in the Premier League and a $200 million-plus jackpot.I can understand all the teams want to go to the Premier League as quick as they can because theres a big pile of (cash) over there, Stam said. Managers need to have time to work on the team to get a certain chemistry within the group to eventually be promoted.Two months into the season, only one Premier League manager has lost his job. Two were booted out by second-tier clubs within a few hours on Tuesday.Walter Zenga, a former Italy goalkeeper, lasted 87 days at Wolverhampton Wanderers before the club decided being 18th in the 24-team division was not good enough. Gary Caldwell led Wigan back into the League Championship from the third tier but has been dismissed from his first senior managerial role after 18 months.October started with Aston Villa firing Roberto Di Matteo, who won the Champions League during a brief spell as Chelsea manager in 2013. Alan Stubbs (Rotherham), Nigel Pearson (Derby) and Paul Trollope (Cardiff) joined Di Matteo in the ranks of unemployed coaches.Every team apart from Rotherham to fire their mangers this month has played in the Premier League. A team can make about 170 million pounds ($208 million) from the Premier League even if it is immediately relegated again thanks to the valuable television contracts and parachute payments to soften the blow for demoted teams.Thai-owned Reading is one of 11 Championship teams with foreign investors seeking the prestige of a place in the top division. Four of the six teams to fire coaches in October are under overseas ownership, with Wolves and Villa the latest Chinese acquisitions.Wigan has enjoyed recent success, winning the FA Cup in 2013, but was relegated the same season from the Premier League and plummeted to third tier. Caldwell, a former Scotland midfielder, was fired on Tuesday with Wigan second-from-last after 14 matches.We deservedly won the League One title last season, said Wigan chairman David Sharpe, whose grandfather -- Dave Whelan -- owns the northwest team.However, we have not managed to carry on that momentum into this season and, after careful consideration over a period of time, I feel that we need to act now in the best long-term interests of the club.Reading was relegated from the Premier League in 2013. It is now eighth in the Championship, only a point from the playoff places, so Stam should be safe -- for now. A bad run of results can change everything, especially at a team that is working for its fourth manager in two years.Everybody working in the Championship knows that that (being fired) is possible, said Stam, who has previously worked on the Ajax coaching staff. But if you are afraid of getting sacked then you dont need to do this job.---Rob Harris is at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReportsBen Garland Jersey . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Elvis Grbac Jersey . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/custom-dana-stubblefield-jersey-large-508d.html . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Steve DeBerg Jersey . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Robbie Gould Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12.TORONTO -- Last winter, Hockey Canada and Bauer Hockey Inc. commissioned an independent survey to better understand the challenges facing non hockey-playing families. Thats because according to the two organizations, approximately 90 per cent of Canadian families choose to not have their kids play hockey. So a survey of 875 non hockey-playing families in Ontario and Nova Scotia was conducted to better understand why they dont play the game and the top four reasons given were a) it wasnt fun b) was too time consuming c) safety concerns d) and affordability. The good news is 73 per cent of those surveyed also said theyd consider putting their kids in the game in future while 40 per cent said theyd definitely consider it. Hockey Canada and Bauer Canada unveiled pilot programs Thursday at Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) for launch in Ontario and Nova Scotia this fall to address the survey findings. Its the next phase in Grow The Game, an initiative launched last year to add one million new players by 2022. "What this does is (set off) that little bell," said Paul Carson, Hockey Canadas vice-president of hockey development. "Its a reminder that youve got promote the game in a way people understand the fun and positive experiences youngsters have in the sport." Former NHL star Mark Messier is assisting Bauer and Hockey Canada in their quest to get more players in the game. The six-time Stanley Cup champion says theres more to hockey in Canada than making it to the NHL, winning gold medals on the world stage and playing at the highest rep level. "That is a great part of our game, we all know that, I mean I lived it, so many Canadians have lived it and fans live it," Messier said. "But hockey is so much more than that for our children and thats the idea were trying to get across that it doesnt have to be that. "Im in no way demeaning those programs because theres a need for that and theres kids who are ready for that. But its the other kids we need to pay attention to and theres a lot of those kids who are kind of getting bypassed right now." Six-week pilot programs will be launched this fall and next spring in Hamilton, the Toronto neighbourhood of Scarborough, Halifax and East Hants, N.S. Bauer, Hockey Canada and local governing bodies will hoost fun days for parents and children while also providing information on hockey safety and educating on proper equipment fit, among other subjects.dddddddddddd As well, enrolment and equipment will be bundled together at $100. Once the programs are launched, they will be re-evaluated and expanded into other regions. Kevin Davis, the president and chief executive officer of Bauer, said addressing the issue of hockey affordability was important. "We just want to completely remove that from being a barrier and its a compelling offer relative to other sports," he said. "Again, its a pilot program and were going to roll this out and see what kind of success (we have) and my guess is were going to learn some stuff as we go. "We have a responsibility to our shareholders to grow the company but we have a responsibility to the sport. This is the heart of hockey here in Canada . . . were committed to getting more kids on the ice." Messier, for one, was stunned by the survey results. "I think it comes to a shock to everybody," he said. "We like to consider ourselves at the top of the pyramid in hockey around the world and if were going to stay there . . . we have to continue to develop our talent pool. "In order to do that we have to continue to introduce the game to more kids, get more kids playing and keep those kids that do try it in the game. This is one way, hopefully, we can start to do that. Were trying to send the message now that hockey is for everybody and theres a place for everybody if you want to play hockey." Messier said its important for kids to have alternate places to play other than rep or travel leagues. "We dont want to make our kids feel like theyre failures because that (rep, AAA) isnt for them or theyre not ready for that," he said. "Right now theres not a real soft place for them to land if they dont make that but still love the game. "If theyre not in the game they cant make it so were going to keep the kids in the game, theyre going to more fun and theyre going to be passionate about it. If they do develop and get that keen sense of passion that you need to play at that intense level, I think were going to have more kids who are funnelling through that, it just might take them a little longer." ' ' '