Which muppet can we appoint next?

[irie Cee Bee]

Well I am happy to see the lukewarm reaction to the story that Chris Wilder is top of the list. Very different from the Coyle and Lennon excitement and hysteria when they were announced as our new manager. Hopefully with the low expectations, Wilder or anyone else for that matter, if appointed, we will finally see the club turn the corner and start the climb up again.

[TonyDomingos]

Clearing the decks:

"Assistant manager Steve Walford and first team coach Garry Parker have officially left the club."

How does one "officially" leave?

[thebish]

Top, top names!

Epic!

ooooofffff - a pack of Bolton manager Top Trumps - hours of fun!

[LeverEnd]

Top, top names!

Epic!

ooooofffff - a pack of Bolton manager Top Trumps - hours of fun!

I vote Venusian Death Cell for new manager.

[thebish]

Christ alive, what were people expecting? I'd like someone with experience but anyone expecting a big name is going to be disappointed.

And Anderson didn't say top names he said he was surprised by the quality of applicants. You can view that in many ways. Wilder is sought after and has a good reputation seemingly. Again wouldn't be my choice but can't dismiss it that easily.

calm down!!

my use of "top names" referred directly to the quoted report that there is a name which is now "top" of our list of three... whereas Iles told us that Deano and Anderson had different favourites - ie. competing "top names"

Is there one top name or are there two top names?? we need to know!!!

[thebish]

No-one could ever say he didn't give his all? There were plenty on these pages who called him a fat lazy coaster during his last few months here... Oh for such problems now.

Sorry but I'm not keen on the Scouse dream team. Nolan's in managerial short pants and it's hardly like Reidy has proved the wise old sage or frightened them into order so far, is it?

I will own up to being one of those people! (to be fair - he was!)

[Harry Genshaw]

Perhaps Wilder is the candidate who said he'd walk to Bolton to get the job? That's a saving on a club car right there

[thebish]

do we buy this "top of the list" thing?? Is that how shortlisting works in football???

why would anyone at the club who knows anything announce to anyone that we made a shortlist of three - and then say that we had ranked that list?? what's to gain by telling anyone that - or by ranking your shortlist? surely the only point of a shortlist (the alleged "three") is to then be able to focus your more intensive interviewing on fewer candidates. ranking them before you do this is a waste of time... why would you do it??

[BWFC_Insane]

Chris Wilder doesn't seem to tally with what Anderson was saying earlier in the week. For one thing, would he really have already been in for an interview?

Reading about Wilder, he also seems pretty old school to me. He's pushing 50 with 700 games in management under his belt with Halifax, Oxford and Northampton. At Northampton he hired a 'Head of Recruitment' (essentially a Chief Scout) but he retains control of transfers, and his managerial mentor is Harry Bassett.

I also thought it was interesting to read that he prefers to live in Sheffield and commute, which is the type of fairly innocuous thing that will become a bone of contention should he hit a rocky patch.

I know nothing about Wilder but he has taken Oxford from non league back to league two and left them in a safe league two position. Then went to Northampton who were facing relegation out of the league. He kept them up and now is taking them up. Despite the fact that during the middle of that the club was a few days from going out of business and nobody had been paid for 2 months.

I can see why someone with that sort of record would appeal to the new Bolton owners. And I guess the whole thing about how transfers work is out in the open and presumably will be discussed with any candidate before they take it.

Ultimately we've had 4 managers who've had carte blanche over signings (budget aside) and that has left us where we are. Whilst normally I'd prefer a manager to decide everything and live and die by that decision, I'm open to see if there is a new approach that perhaps adds more longer term stability. If DH and KA can perhaps imprint a policy and style onto who we look to sign and bring in managers who accept that, it might prevent the mess we've experienced of new managers coming in and ripping the squad up and starting again and it costing absolute fortunes.

I don't personally think we need a rookie, I want someone battle hardened with experience. But Wilder MIGHT bridge the gap between a hard old head and a young rookie, he's seemingly somewhere in between. I don't know.

Not sure why he'd come here though as he has no ties with us and apparently is wanted by Rotherham which is local for him and probably a league higher to boot.

[LeverEnd]

Yes it wouldn't surprise me if the list is plan B while they try to help Sunbed wriggle out of his Southend contract.
I'm not dead against his appointment but certainly wouldn't be wanting the club to spend a fortune getting him if Wilder is up for it and cheap.

[BWFC_Insane]

do we buy this "top of the list" thing?? Is that how shortlisting works in football???

why would anyone at the club who knows anything announce to anyone that we made a shortlist of three - and then say that we had ranked that list?? what's to gain by telling anyone that - or by ranking your shortlist? surely the only point of a shortlist (the alleged "three") is to then be able to focus your more intensive interviewing on fewer candidates. ranking them before you do this is a waste of time... why would you do it??

You don't know that there is a shortlist of 3? Or that there have even been interviews.

Anderson may have just been doing the usual spiel to cover up the plan. Like when Megson and Souness were "interviewed" despite the fact Megson was basically getting the job anyway (and had been publically touted as a potential SA replacement by Gartside a year or two before)

But if the process is as they say, it may well be that Wilder is already top choice but they need to see two back ups in case they can't get Wilder to come or the compensation is too much or Rotherham nip in there.

Alternatively it could all be a plan to try and force Brown to sacrifice his Southend shares and walk out. Who knows?

[LeverEnd]

Bwfci I think managerial vanity plays a part. They would all love to restore a famous old club to whatever they believe it's rightful place to be. Rotherham is at its absolute limit I'd say, there's a lot more potential here despite the shit we are in.
Wilder is no rookie either, he's managed a lot of games but isn't tarnished by failure like many of the older managers inevitably will be. He's on the up and could bring a freshness as well as his experience. I don't think we are likely to do any better.
*but I know feck all and was delighted we get coyle and lennon

[thebish]

do we buy this "top of the list" thing?? Is that how shortlisting works in football???

why would anyone at the club who knows anything announce to anyone that we made a shortlist of three - and then say that we had ranked that list?? what's to gain by telling anyone that - or by ranking your shortlist? surely the only point of a shortlist (the alleged "three") is to then be able to focus your more intensive interviewing on fewer candidates. ranking them before you do this is a waste of time... why would you do it??

You don't know that there is a shortlist of 3? Or that there have even been interviews.

Anderson may have just been doing the usual spiel to cover up the plan. Like when Megson and Souness were "interviewed" despite the fact Megson was basically getting the job anyway (and had been publically touted as a potential SA replacement by Gartside a year or two before)

But if the process is as they say, it may well be that Wilder is already top choice but they need to see two back ups in case they can't get Wilder to come or the compensation is too much or Rotherham nip in there.

Alternatively it could all be a plan to try and force Brown to sacrifice his Southend shares and walk out. Who knows?

no I don't - but it has been rumoured - which is why I ask "do we buy it?" and use the word "alleged"...

[BWFC_Insane]

Bwfci I think managerial vanity plays a part. They would all love to restore a famous old club to whatever they believe it's rightful place to be. Rotherham is at its absolute limit I'd say, there's a lot more potential here despite the shit we are in.
Wilder is no rookie either, he's managed a lot of games but isn't tarnished by failure like many of the older managers inevitably will be. He's on the up and could bring a freshness as well as his experience. I don't think we are likely to do any better.
*but I know feck all and was delighted we get coyle and lennon

Aye I'm at the same point. I know little about lower league managers but I'm not keen on someone like Cotterill who seems to be in trouble or controversy wherever he goes without ever producing sparkling results in the long run.

I also think Nolan/Reid is a disaster waiting to happen.

But beyond that I haven't a fecking clue who would be best and I had high hopes for Lennon, who was a big name after all. And that was a disaster.

I just found it odd that PT seemed to be saying that we should be getting a "top name" when we're going to be in league one with no money. Why would a big name come here? And beyond that, why would having someone with a name make them more likely to succeed than someone who has done well under similar circumstances that we will be faced with?

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

do we buy this "top of the list" thing?? Is that how shortlisting works in football???

why would anyone at the club who knows anything announce to anyone that we made a shortlist of three - and then say that we had ranked that list?? what's to gain by telling anyone that - or by ranking your shortlist? surely the only point of a shortlist (the alleged "three") is to then be able to focus your more intensive interviewing on fewer candidates. ranking them before you do this is a waste of time... why would you do it??

You don't know that there is a shortlist of 3? Or that there have even been interviews.

Anderson may have just been doing the usual spiel to cover up the plan. Like when Megson and Souness were "interviewed" despite the fact Megson was basically getting the job anyway (and had been publically touted as a potential SA replacement by Gartside a year or two before)

But if the process is as they say, it may well be that Wilder is already top choice but they need to see two back ups in case they can't get Wilder to come or the compensation is too much or Rotherham nip in there.

Alternatively it could all be a plan to try and force Brown to sacrifice his Southend shares and walk out. Who knows?

no I don't - but it has been rumoured - which is why I ask "do we buy it?" and use the word "alleged"...

Ken Anderson said the 50 had been whittled down to 3 and they were doing 2nd interviews with the 3. Sounds like a shortlist to me.

[thebish]

do we buy this "top of the list" thing?? Is that how shortlisting works in football???

why would anyone at the club who knows anything announce to anyone that we made a shortlist of three - and then say that we had ranked that list?? what's to gain by telling anyone that - or by ranking your shortlist? surely the only point of a shortlist (the alleged "three") is to then be able to focus your more intensive interviewing on fewer candidates. ranking them before you do this is a waste of time... why would you do it??

You don't know that there is a shortlist of 3? Or that there have even been interviews.

Anderson may have just been doing the usual spiel to cover up the plan. Like when Megson and Souness were "interviewed" despite the fact Megson was basically getting the job anyway (and had been publically touted as a potential SA replacement by Gartside a year or two before)

But if the process is as they say, it may well be that Wilder is already top choice but they need to see two back ups in case they can't get Wilder to come or the compensation is too much or Rotherham nip in there.

Alternatively it could all be a plan to try and force Brown to sacrifice his Southend shares and walk out. Who knows?

no I don't - but it has been rumoured - which is why I ask "do we buy it?" and use the word "alleged"...

Ken Anderson said the 50 had been whittled down to 3 and they were doing 2nd interviews with the 3. Sounds like a shortlist to me.

well - yes - but I am allowing for BWFC-I's caution over things the conspiratorial management might be lying about!!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

well - yes - but I am allowing for BWFC-I's caution over things the conspiratorial management might be lying about!!

<whispers>You mean there might be a secret 4th manager?

[BWFC_Insane]

If this is a second interview then that would mean we'd have had to already approach their clubs in order to speak to them first time round. Which you'd think would mean, that we'd have heard before now who was on the list.

[Harry Genshaw]

How long is Wilder contracted to Northampton for? If we'd have to pay compo I'd look elsewhere. If Rotherham want him does that mean we can have Warnock?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Chris Wilder doesn't seem to tally with what Anderson was saying earlier in the week. For one thing, would he really have already been in for an interview?

Didn't KA say that of the three-man shortlist - who were due back in for second interviews - one or two of them were in employment? Sure I read that but it doesn't seem to be in the BN reports.

Reading about Wilder, he also seems pretty old school to me. He's pushing 50 with 700 games in management under his belt with Halifax, Oxford and Northampton. At Northampton he hired a 'Head of Recruitment' (essentially a Chief Scout) but he retains control of transfers, and his managerial mentor is Harry Bassett.

On the first point, there's a difference between being old and being old-school. We can't really know Wilder's opinions on structure and so on. It's also not been made clear that the new manager won't have final say on transfers: it's quite possible/probable that Holdsworth and Anderson are there to assist rather than insist (within budget).

But yeah, I never liked Bassett...

I also thought it was interesting to read that he prefers to live in Sheffield and commute, which is the type of fairly innocuous thing that will become a bone of contention should he hit a rocky patch.

Yeah, it might. It's a couple of hours to Bolton or Northampton, but Rotherham's a sight nearer, and a division higher. That's the biggest hurdle, to me: if they want him, he gets to leap a division (as opposed to either us or Northampton) and is also closer to home.

Also worth noting that the BN describes Nolan/Reid as "the alternate option", rather than alternative, so perhaps Wilder does the away games and the Mersey Boys do the home games?

Clearing the decks:

"Assistant manager Steve Walford and first team coach Garry Parker have officially left the club."

How does one "officially" leave?

I imagine they haven't been around much since Lennon left, but we/they have been discussing severance.