Valérien Ismaël: Former Head Coach

[Penwortham Blue]

2 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I mean early lists are usually just a device to relieve mug punters of their money and the early favourite rarely gets the job.

Carsley was long odds on initially when we were looking to replace Eustace wasn't he? And Wagner was reportedly down to the last two when Ismael was appointed. Is he working currently? That would rule him out.

Suspect Duff is a lazy connection due to being a former Rover. He doesnt tolerate fools allegedly.

What would people's views be on re-hiring JDT? Part of me thinks they should go crawling back over broken glass and admit they made a massive mistake last time and give him fairly free rein over the football side of things backed up by a decent budget. And yet even with that there's a nagging doubt.

Id be fairly pleased with Bilic. 

Still not sure if it shouldnt be viewed as a temporary firefighting operation until the end of the season initially then reassess in summer. We'll eventually end up appointing Neil Warnock to bail us out when he's about 90 if we have to keep sacking managers every February.

Guess we'll have to keep our eyes peeled and see who's having tea in the Wilpshire Hotel tonight!

JDT was a great coach and had us playing fantastic football, if they had properly backed him then I think he may well have got us in the promotion frame. I think he has a real affection for Rovers, the fans and even the area and think he would happily return under new owners but hell would freeze over before he worked for these muppets again !

[booth]

1 minute ago, danger19_80 said:

Whats Wagner up to, was between him and Val last time

And what an insult to Wagner.

[Tugayslongwalkoff]

Does anyone know if the rumours about Nigel Adkins are true? Supposedly a done deal. 

[RevidgeBlue]

1 minute ago, Tugayslongwalkoff said:

Does anyone know if the rumours about Nigel Adkins are true? Supposedly a done deal. 

Is it April 1st already?

[Tricky]

2 minutes ago, Tugayslongwalkoff said:

Nigel Adkins

On 26 February 2025, Adkins left Tranmere by mutual agreement.^[54] This decision came after a ten-game winless run in the league which culminated in a home defeat to Accrington Stanley which left Tranmere two points above the relegation zone.^[54] Adkins won 23 of his 72 games in charge at Tranmere

Nogel Sadkins

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Just trying to get into the mind of Rudy on who I think he'll choose.

The obvious will be:

Previous Managerial Experience in England
Good with Data
Likes integrating youth players
An up and coming coach that will work with us in Champ or L1
Can Speak English
Can Speak French (i'm serious, I think that would be a deciding factor 😂)

My guess, and it's not who I want (before anyone moans) is that I think Rudy will appoint Will Still as the new manager. 

[StHelensRover]

2 minutes ago, Tricky said:

Nogel Sadkins

This made me laugh out loud for the first time today 😄

Not as much as i'll laugh (weep) if we appoint him.

[booth]

4 minutes ago, Tricky said:

On 26 February 2025, Adkins left Tranmere by mutual agreement.^[54] This decision came after a ten-game winless run in the league which culminated in a home defeat to Accrington Stanley which left Tranmere two points above the relegation zone.^[54] Adkins won 23 of his 72 games in charge at Tranmere

Nogel Sadkins

Winless runs seem to be a prerequisite when appointing a manager. So probably him then.

[Ianrally]

1 minute ago, StHelensRover said:

This made me laugh out loud for the first time today 😄

Not as much as i'll laugh (weep) if we appoint him.

Don't hold your breath for the sake of your sanity.

[Armchair supporter supremo]

Good distraction to yet another awful january window ending this innit

👏👏👏👏👏

Edited 1 hour ago by Armchair supporter supremo

[Waggy76]

27 minutes ago, only2garners said:

He's been sacked by Morecambe so is readily available.

Well , it is Venky Rovers  so anything might happen !

[Ianrally]

5 minutes ago, Tim Southampton Rover said:

Just trying to get into the mind of Rudy on who I think he'll choose.

The obvious will be:

Previous Managerial Experience in England
Good with Data
Likes integrating youth players
An up and coming coach that will work with us in Champ or L1
Can Speak English
Can Speak French (i'm serious, I think that would be a deciding factor 😂)

My guess, and it's not who I want (before anyone moans) is that I think Rudy will appoint Will Still as the new manager. 

So he learned to be a coach at Myerscough College. God help us!

[rovers11]

Rowett or Mowbray for me. Both very solid managers at this level.

I think both would take it, but I don't think either will be offered it as they'd want too much control. Mowbray basically run the club when he was manager, even having a direct line to India and appointing his choice of CEO.

Edited 1 hour ago by rovers11

[aletheia]

Not that it matters but any credence to this?

5 Rovers players led a changing room revolt against VI on Saturday which was headed up by Cantwell and Pickering.
The players were all called in to Brockhall by RG on Sunday and they told him to get rid of VI.
VI was brought in this morning to be told he was leaving.

[Tomphil2]

The people responsible for the forced summer reset and recruitment of some of these players and Ismael himself ought to be right behind him through the door as well.

Otherwise rinse and repeat.

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, JHRover said:

Carlos Carvalhal? out of work, would fit the coach model they are looking for, never lasts very long anywhere, was linked just as JDT was getting the job. I suspect he moves in the right circles to be a contender here with his 'connections' and having managed Sheffield Wednesday.

I'd actually be in favour of it if so, he has a good record and I think could give us a shot at survival. 

Wouldn't last long though, but given the tenure now is 1 year at best he doesn't need to. 

He was allegedly Waggott's first choice to replace Mowbray wasn't he, but we weren't prepared to pay for him to bring his extensive coaching entourage with him.

Can't really see that changing.

[Aqualung]

27 minutes ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

With his ego it wouldn't suprise me to see Gestede appoint himself as manager and give himself a 5 year contract 

Im sure Gestede has more power than Pasha. Or feels he has. 

Any manager that takes the job under these 2 cretins needs their heads looked at. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Aqualung
Spell

[Tim Southampton Rover]

1 minute ago, aletheia said:

Not that it matters but any credence to this?

5 Rovers players led a changing room revolt against VI on Saturday which was headed up by Cantwell and Pickering.
The players were all called in to Brockhall by RG on Sunday and they told him to get rid of VI.
VI was brought in this morning to be told he was leaving.

Sad to say but I can't see any of our current team having the balls to do that 🤣

[Tomphil2]

He allegedly still took training today.

[Tomphil2]

46 minutes ago, den said:

My thoughts too. He was talking about himself possibly leaving in his post match interview. He knew it was over - and yes nobody - not even Venkys - wouldn’t have someone lined up for the interim.

Some saying they heard whispers Friday which no doubt Ismael did as well and expected him gone if they didn't beat Hull.

[JHRover]

1 minute ago, RevidgeBlue said:

He was allegedly Waggott's first choice to replace Mowbray wasn't he, but we weren't prepared to pay for him to bring his extensive coaching entourage with him.

Can't really see that changing.

Just before JDT turned up after Broughton arrived the names being heavily linked were Carvalhal, Daniel Farke and Duncan Ferguson. 

It was a really strange time as we had publicly stated we were looking to bring in a Director of Football but appeared to be pressing on with getting managers lined up before we'd appointed the DofF. 

Then after a long delay they got Broughton in and within no time he'd got JDT in. 

It looked chaotic and like we had no idea what we were doing.

It seems the presence of Johnson, Benson and previously Lowe were non-negotiables having been there throughout Mowbray, JDT, Eustace and now Ismael so yeah can see someone like Carvalhal who brings a  gang of staff with him as being a problem. Rather expensive but in our situation we should be paying to try and survive not avoiding decent options to save a few quid. 

[Penwortham Blue]

17 minutes ago, Tugayslongwalkoff said:

Does anyone know if the rumours about Nigel Adkins are true? Supposedly a done deal. 

He would be perfect fit as could double up as the physio, Pasha would be in dreamland 😂

[JHRover]

4 minutes ago, Aqualung said:

Im sure Gestede has more power than Pasha. Or feels he has. 

No chance. Gestede is playing football manager down at Brockhall by swanning around the place in his fancy suit and 'Head of' title lording it over all the staff but he's still very much Pasha's puppet. Nothing of significance is going to happen without Pasha giving it the ok first. 

[SuperBrfc]

14 minutes ago, Tugayslongwalkoff said:

Does anyone know if the rumours about Nigel Adkins are true? Supposedly a done deal. 

That has to be a piss take from somebody, surely?

They tried to appoint Adkins as Coyle's replacement in Feb 2017. Maybe that's what somebody is having a laugh about with that rumour. Story below.

If he seriously turns up here now in 2026, it needs to become war against this regime.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4245932/Blackburn-Rovers-sack-Owen-Coyle-club-struggle-form.html

 

[Jimmy612]

13 minutes ago, aletheia said:

Not that it matters but any credence to this?

5 Rovers players led a changing room revolt against VI on Saturday which was headed up by Cantwell and Pickering.
The players were all called in to Brockhall by RG on Sunday and they told him to get rid of VI.
VI was brought in this morning to be told he was leaving.

I live on the A59 and weirdly, I was pretty sure I saw Pickering driving nearby Tiggis/ Shajan at about 14:30 yesterday...  I did think it was a bit odd, but that if he was injured he might just be in for a bit of treatment or whatever.  For about half a second I wondered whether they'd all been called in for an update, but dismissed it out of hand because I didn't think they'd sack VI. 

I'm aware this sounds like the Ray Wilkins Wilpshire story 😂

Edited 1 hour ago by Jimmy612