Cod Almighty | Article
by Various
11 February 2004
The Cod Almighty team run the rule over the leading candidates for the Blundell Park hotseat. And we don't mean the vacancy in the Learn GTi department.
Keith Alexander
Form: Just returned from brain surgery. Exceeded expectations by taking Lincoln to the third division play-off final last season. Prefers a more direct approach to the game, but given Town's circumstances do you see many fans grumbling?
Chances: Lincoln stood by Keith while he recovered from his ailment. It's unlikely he'd repay them by walking away.
Alan Buckley
Form: Town were a first division club for most of the 90s thanks to Buckley's efforts. Fabled believer in passing and movement. Love/hate relationship with fans.
Chances: As Howard Kendall showed, never go back three times. Burnt his bridges somewhat when he was last sacked. But do the board know anybody else's phone number?
Nigel Clough
Form: Son of Old Big 'ead himself, so expectation is high. As Clough Sr said: "I can see a lot of me in him." Currently learning the ropes at Conference side Burton Albion. Dubbed one of the country's most promising managers...
Chances: ...but nobody seems to take a chance on him. And would he have the mettle for a relegation fight?
Steve Cotterill
Form: Developed a thriving reputation at Cheltenham taking them from the Conference to the second division. Dumped Cheltenham when Stoke came calling, and left them after 13 games to join Howard Wilkinson at Sunderland.
Chances: He's out of work, but very well qualified. Driven to succeed so don't expect him to stay around. If he ever came.
Billy Dearden
Form: Showed great promise at Mansfield working on limited resources. Showed less promise at Notts County working with nothing. Likes to cup his hands and shout a lot from the touchline, which we ain't seen from a Town manager for a while.
Chances: Has experience at this level and knows how to get a team battling, given some players that is. Among the best bets.
Tony Ford
Form: Fondly remembered and still seen about town. Has been Steve Parkin's number two at Rochdale and Barnsley. Could he make the step up?
Chances: Unlikely, at Town anyway. The fans would get behind him and he will have a good number of people to take advice from, but Town need an established manager.
Trevor Francis
Form: Given his managerial break at Sheffield Wednesday, Francis embarked on the blueprint for his managerial style: bringing in players, ruining them, bringing in more players, ruining them...
Chances: Bound to prefer getting stressed about not making the play-offs with a bigger team than mucking it with lowly Grimsby. Would provide ace mardy quotes in post-match interviews though.
Ray Graydon
Form: Took Walsall into the first division playing some attractive football, operating on a limited budget with a canny eye for frees and loans. Not so successful 'homecoming' spell at Bristol Rovers including his bizarre 'disappearance' at the end.
Chances: Good. Has spent time at this level and at Walsall showed similar skills that will be needed at Town.
Ray Mathias
Form: A 'two clubs twice' man, having managed Wigan and Tranmere twice each. Highly regarded by those in the game, mainly as a more than capable coach. Has had his teams playing some pragmatic football.
Chances: Has one of the best points-per-game ratios out of those mentioned, but since 1990 he has only managed 139 games...
Bruce Rioch
Form: Started his managerial career in Torquay in 1982, reaching the heights of Arsenal during the mid-90s after guiding Bolton on their famous cup runs. Average spells at Norwich and moneybags Wigan though.
Chances: A strict disciplinarian who would bark the players into action. Could be what the players need.
Steve Wignall
Form: Took over at Colchester in January 1995 and did a sterling job taking them into the second division three and a half years later. After a period out of the game, returned for an abortive 23-game spell managing Southend.
Chances: Wignall's reign at Colchester floundered when they flirted with relegation. A sign?