Who's the Rioch to Evatt's Neal?

[DJBlu]

It's not Evatt, that's certain.

[Worthy4England]

I've been refreshing this page all day, I think everyone just wants it done so we can stop obsessing over it.

Just thought I'd post something new, so it lit up red and you have something to open! Thank me later!

[Spartan2]

I've been refreshing this page all day, I think everyone just wants it done so we can stop obsessing over it.

Just thought I'd post something new, so it lit up red and you have something to open! Thank me later!

[GhostoftheBok]

Thing is I may have concerns about decision making but I’m confident Sharon and Markham would not do that. They may have caused some wobbles but they aren’t that bad.

There are plausible reasons why this would take time were it Schumacher.

One big issue will be how he left Stoke. If he's on gardening leave then there will need to be talks with Stoke as to how much of his Championship earnings they will pay off. We're unlikely to match his pay there, but it would benefit Stoke to pay him a much lower lump sum to get rid of that liability and he can then come here on less money.

He was less than a year into a 3.5 year deal, so that's a fairly substantial sum he's owed. There was no talk of him agreeing to go, he got binned - and was shocked to be told to do one.

[Bertie Wooster]

People saying that he was on a reported £1M a year at Stoke.

[BWFC_Insane]

Thing is I may have concerns about decision making but I’m confident Sharon and Markham would not do that. They may have caused some wobbles but they aren’t that bad.

There are plausible reasons why this would take time were it Schumacher.

One big issue will be how he left Stoke. If he's on gardening leave then there will need to be talks with Stoke as to how much of his Championship earnings they will pay off. We're unlikely to match his pay there, but it would benefit Stoke to pay him a much lower lump sum to get rid of that liability and he can then come here on less money.

He was less than a year into a 3.5 year deal, so that's a fairly substantial sum he's owed. There was no talk of him agreeing to go, he got binned - and was shocked to be told to do one.

Yes I suspect this will be the case. Still being paid by Stoke and we don’t want to pick up the whole lot. Question will be who sacrifices what, or if…..

[GhostoftheBok]

People saying that he was on a reported £1M a year at Stoke.

When he went there the number doing the rounds was £20k a week, plus bonuses.

If he's still on that and we want him out then that's probably a fairly complicated issue to deal with. He won't get anything like that here and Stoke won't want to subsidise his entire deal over the next couple of years.

[Bijou Bob]

Is ‘Gardening Leave’ even a thing anymore? I can’t see any agent allowing a clause in a contract that says “If you sack me, you can pay the balance of my contract over the next x years”. I’m sure one or two were caught out with it some years ago, but surely agents are much more savvy these days and any payment of remaining contract will be subject to a table of percentages, for example?

I’m expecting an announcement tomorrow. I have no inside knowledge, but it seems to me that if the club delay beyond that, it’s tantamount to admitting there is an issue somewhere.

[GhostoftheBok]

Is ‘Gardening Leave’ even a thing anymore?

Yes, it still happens. Absolutely no idea how Schumacher left Stoke.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Is ‘Gardening Leave’ even a thing anymore?

Yes, it still happens. Absolutely no idea how Schumacher left Stoke.

Or his successor Narcis Pelach, who was also given a three-year contract. Pelach is now back coaching at West Ham so we can assume that contract's dead, but at one point Stoke may have been paying managers' wages to Schumacher, Pelach and Mark Robins. Luckily they have the stolen wallets of gambling addicts to pay for them all.

Iles ringing a solemn bell this morning, saying the club are getting Darby to prep for Reading - taking training this morning, and presumably the press conference thereafter. The team are indeed travelling down to (or at least towards) Reading tomorrow.

[The_Gun]

Is ‘Gardening Leave’ even a thing anymore?

Yes, it still happens. Absolutely no idea how Schumacher left Stoke.

Or his successor Narcis Pelach, who was also given a three-year contract. Pelach is now back coaching at West Ham so we can assume that contract's dead, but at one point Stoke may have been paying managers' wages to Schumacher, Pelach and Mark Robins. Luckily they have the stolen wallets of gambling addicts to pay for them all.

Iles ringing a solemn bell this morning, saying the club are getting Darby to prep for Reading - taking training this morning, and presumably the press conference thereafter. The team are indeed travelling down to (or at least towards) Reading tomorrow.

Conversely, Alex Crook from TalkSport saying Schumacher is a done deal.

[BWFC_Insane]

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... hold-fort/

Former Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher has been the bookies’ favourite almost exclusively since Evatt’s exit, and it is understood that he has held advanced talks to become the next manager

I think that clears up as close to a fact as is possible that Schumacher is the first choice and has been in advanced talks.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Conversely, Alex Crook from TalkSport saying Schumacher is a done deal.

He may have said that on air - I don't listen to Taxi Drivers Shouting AM, as F365 used to call it - but his tweet cleaves tight to the cuddly old "advanced talks" line...

(I also note Ilesy using the faithful old "is understood to be" clause...)

[BWFC_Insane]

Conversely, Alex Crook from TalkSport saying Schumacher is a done deal.

He may have said that on air - I don't listen to Taxi Drivers Shouting AM, as F365 used to call it - but his tweet cleaves tight to the cuddly old "advanced talks" line...

(I also note Ilesy using the faithful old "is understood to be" clause...)

From what I can gather Iles was told at the start of the week it would be announced yesterday and he could do press with new man today.

It’s clearly Schumacher as several outlets and indeed Iles himself are ‘confirming’ as definitively as I’d suggest is possible.

The unknown is what the hold up is - we can guess it’s money related and contractural - and when or if that can be sorted. The national press may be right that it’s close or may have simply picked up on where Iles was Tuesday expecting it confirmed in next 24 hours a bit late.

[Bijou Bob]

Ah, Football 365. I still miss that place. It helped pass many a bored hour at work in the early to mid noughties.

[jmjhb]

Happy manager appointment day, all being well...

[Bertie Wooster]

Happy manager appointment day, all being well...

Good news....

Welcome to BWFC Schuey.

[Worthy4England]

Ah, Football 365. I still miss that place. It helped pass many a bored hour at work in the early to mid noughties.

Listening to Arsenal fans venting about was was and wasn't football after a wet and windy night North of Watford was a joy.

[DJBlu]

Happy manager appointment day, all being well...

Official TW horses mouth.

Is this a first?

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Ah, Football 365. I still miss that place. It helped pass many a bored hour at work in the early to mid noughties.

Listening to Arsenal fans venting about was was and wasn't football after a wet and windy night North of Watford was a joy.

Yeah, but the morally won