"Between now and the start of next season" is a pretty big time frame DD.
I don't think NC will make a judgement until the end of this season.
If we end this season with a Wembley final and are within a few points of the play offs I think NC and the majority of fans would consider that a success.
In that case, I would expect to see AP here next year.
If, however, we don't make it to Wembley and start to slip down the table then of course NC will re-evaluate AP's position.
Of course AP is under pressure to get results this season, I would be very concerned if he wasn't. But talk of sacking him before he has had a chance to prove himself is scare-mongering.
So to answer your question DD......
If NC sacked AP between now and April I would think he was a ***t.
If NC sacked AP during the summer because we failed to get to Wembley and finished a few points from relegation, I would be pretty supportive.