When do you fire Nolan?

It’s a trickier question than you think, especially if you think John York should fire him ASAP.

Let’s go through the possibilities. Let’s say the 49ers win their next two games and enter the bye week at 4-4. Admittedly, that’s an unrealistic scenario, especially beating the Giants in the Meadowlands. But let’s pretend. If the Niners are 4-4 entering the bye York definitely does NOT fire Nolan.

If on the other hand, the 49ers lose their next two and enter the bye week at 2-6 Nolan must go, has to go. I don’t need to tell you the reasons. They’re obvious.

Now we get to the tough one. What if the Niners beat the Giants but lose to the Seahawks — not likely? Or let’s turn it around. What if they lose to the Giants but beat the Seahawks? Either way they’d enter the bye week at 3-5. It’s a bad record, but not atrocious considering the Niners’ hard schedule.

So here’s the deal: 4-4 or 2-6 are no brainers. It’s the 3-5 that’s the tough one. What would you do?

— Lowell