There seems to be a lack of quality managers in Lancashire at the moment with vacant positions at Bolton, Blackburn and Burnley. Eddie Howe, Owen Coyle and Steve Kean have all tried and failed at their respective clubs and now the search is one for someone who can guide these teams out of the Championship.
Blackburn
Perhaps the most likely out of the three to achieve promotion this season based on their start to the campaign. Heading into the international break, Rovers were ninth in the table having dropped out of the play-off places after a run of two points from four games. The majority of the slump Blackburn experienced before the break after Kean left his post, the 45-year-old finally realising his position was untenable 12 months after the rest of the world.
The hunt is now on for someone who can not only deal with the stress of managing a football team but also coping with some questionable owners in Venky’s. The Rovers board are after Tottenham coach Tim Sherwood but negotiations have been less than smooth by all accounts. Also mentioned in connection with the post have been Ian Holloway, Roy Keane and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, although the latter has ruled himself out of the running recently.
Rovers are 7/1 to win the Championship this season and are keen to have someone on board before the weekend’s game with Derby. Despite his reluctance, Sherwood still appears to be the favourite, although as Jimmy Greaves said football is a “funny old game” so don’t rule out Blackburn hero Alan Shearer taking over yet.
Bolton
Many Bolton supporters are probably still asking where it all went wrong for fans’ favourite Coyle, after he made such a good start to life in charge at the Reebok Stadium. A combination of injuries, luck and some poor purchases conspired to bring the Scot down and now the hunt is on for someone who can guide the Trotters back up to the Premier League.
Whoever does takeover has a tough job on their hands, with Bolton languishing in 18th, 11 points off league leaders Cardiff City. Mick McCarthy and Dougie Freedman are the front-runners for the post, although Palace boss Freedman was coy on the rumours when asked if he’d take the job. McCarthy appears as though he would be an unpopular choice, so the Bolton board might be wise to look elsewhere with Paolo Di Canio, Michael Appleton and Billy Davies also mentioned in connection with the job.
Perhaps Davies would be the best option given his Championship experience and the ability to get the best out of limited resources. His style of play is unlikely to win over too many supporters but at least it isn’t Gary Megson Bolton fans.
Bolton are 4/6 to beat Bristol City this weekend with Sammy Lee in charge.
Burnley
In terms of resources, the job at Burnley is perhaps the least attractive, with Howe having been given limited resources to work with. Having gone down the route of appointing a young, upcoming manager it will be interesting to see what the Clarets board does now, especially since the club has had an overhaul in the boardroom.
Sources within the club have rubbished rumours of Coyle coming back, while talk of Phil Brown getting the job is hardly likely to go down well with the Turf Moor faithful. Perhaps someone like Keith Hill is the way to go, the Barnsley boss having done relatively well at Oakwell on a shoestring budget.
The 43-year-old also guided Rochdale to their first promotion in what felt like a millennium but was in fact 41 years. Appleton has also been mentioned in connection with the post and will probably jump at the chance to leave Portsmouth, with all their problems, for a stable club. McCarthy recently came on top of a poll of fans favourites to takeover and he looks destine to get a new job somewhere soon.
Burnley face a tough test this weekend against Blackpool and are 13/8 to win the game, with the Seasiders 5/4 and the draw 12/5.
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