If correct that doesn't bode well. There is very little, if anything, in common between any of those people, suggesting that there is little by way of a plan here. Farke has an outstanding record at this level and could get a move to any Championship club - should be given the job if interested and the others binned off Ainsworth has been at Wycombe Wanderers all his career and whilst he has done very well with them in the lower divisions by all reports plays a very different style of football and recruitment and is very much a manager rather than head coach as Farke was at Norwich. Cocu is more similar to Farke in the head coach and style department but has had a mediocre record since leaving PSV, but nevertheless is a big name in European football. Johnson is a head coach sort from Bristol and Sunderland but his record is no better than Mowbray's and he's a streaky manager who would often get Bristol to the top 6 then collapse and was sacked at Sunderland this season so not sure why he's suitable here. Warburton has just left QPR for similar issues to what we've had under Mowbray although he's an experienced operator with a decent reputation at this level. Unsworth is a relatively young coach with no experience as a full time senior manager. There is very little, if anything, in common between those 6. Just about as wide and varied group of people as can possibly be drawn up. Just imagine having options including Farke or Dyche and then appointing Unsworth or Lee Johnson. Christ.

Di Matteo has managed in this league and won promotion from it so I don't understand your first paragraph. I understand that being out of management for that length of time is a concern but I don't think it should be a deal breaker. I don't think Ainsworth is any more a risk than Manning. Both are similar. I think, looking at Mannings background with the City Group, that he has a big future in the game and will quite quickly be approached by bigger clubs higher up the divisions. It seems QPR are already on the case. I am deeply concerned by people suggesting or prioritising Ainsworth purely on his Blackburn connections. I think that is foolish and lazy. I think both are significant risks neither of which I would personally take at this time but yes, if it was a case of picking one from League One it would be Manning.

i agree entirely with this but would add the point that sooner or later Mowbray is going to leave and we are going to have to face this risk. If i was putting money on it and there was a market for such things I would be going with a similar thing to what happened when Lambert left. Cheap desperate appointment, extremely limited funds for new players and a season long relegation battle. I desperately hope I am wrong on that and that they for once show some ambition and have learned but I just can't see it given the silence from the owners and boardroom and business we've done over the last 18 months. It is quite clear to me funding has been cut right back. So yes, quite easily we could be here this time next year thinking top half Championship and complaining about Mowbray's tactics and substitutions were the good old days. But we are going to have to tackle this possibility at some point.. I don't accept that allowing Mowbray to continue indefinitely just out of fear of his replacement being worse is an acceptable position to take. At least as we are we have to hope that with a summer ahead and time to address this that it is the best time to make a change, rather than Mowbray walking away or being sacked mid season. The bloke looks worn down by it all and if there's any basis to his 'family man' routine he could easily pack in at any time, or get an offer from elsewhere he fancies taking.

Wycombe play attractive football? I thought they had a reputation for being very direct and physical set piece specialists? I admit I don't know much about them and it doesn't bother me if it is successful. I'm more bothered by the fact that he's never been tested at a club with pressure or expectations. He's been able to do his thing at Wycombe, a small steady club, coming here would be a complete change in every respect and a risk I don't think is worth taking.

I still have deep concerns here. I don't doubt that somewhere along the chain of command there is a desire to resolve this quickly. To not want to would be an act of self-destruction given the short summer and work that has to be done. There can be no excuse for not moving quickly with this. Mowbray's contract situation has been known to all since it was signed, this isn't something forced upon us by a rival club coming in or a results determined departure. I also don't doubt that managers such as Farke, Stam, Di Matteo and many others will have an interest in coming here. Provided the sums add up its a no brainer for an out of work coach who will get a Championship job at best. But who is doing the interviewing, how much are we able to offer, how quickly can we get an appointment done, and whether these decent options will set around waiting for us to get our act together is another story. There's a good reason Kean, Bowyer and Mowbray travelled to India every summer, which is why they survived years, whilst Berg, Appleton, Lambert and Coyle didn't go to India and lasted months. If this is being run by non-India forces I am worried it won't get done or if it does it just won't last.

The fact there has been no statement of any description about Mowbray or the future tells me that Venkys haven't given approval or direction for that to happen. There is no way Waggott won't be under pressure at the very least from media to say something, yet because he's a CEO in name only he can't do anything. In turn this drastically reduces my expectations on getting a decent replacement in any time soon. The reason being that the ones in control of the cash, Mr and Mrs Desai, are seemingly out of the loop. So expect a summer similar to 2016. The likes of Pasha, Waggott and Cheston interviewing managers, embarrassing themselves and the club in the process, working through a desperate list of people, imposing existing staff on them. In 2016 they somehow managed to get Warnock lined up, I suspect because he was willing to do it relatively cheaply at his age, yet still botched it by appointing Coyle. As far as I can see it is still the same faces behind the scenes and the same chasm to India so expect a similar outcome.

Or the Club rebuilds the staff having had ample time to prepare for their departures and leave managing the first team to the manager. The reason we are in this mess is because we've relied on Mowbray to do everything and if we do this again we will be reliant on the next one. Why do we need a manager to appoint a Head of recruitment or physio? We shouldn't be looking for a manager to do this, or develop the academy. We need a manager who can get an XI out on a Saturday and win games.

Its a sign of how messed up this club is that there is even any consideration of the contract status of backroom staff. Normally they come and go with management teams and the club coughs up money if needed to get rid of them when a change needs to be made. You certainly don't allow your options to be constrained by your GK coach having time left on his deal, which won't be substantial in any event. The players need new ideas and voices. Persisting with Mowbray's team but without Mowbray would be a disaster.

I think that's a strong shout. Was linked last time around, available, cheap, fits the same mould as Lambert, Coyle and Mowbray in that he once got promoted to the PL a long time ago. Scouser who would work with those already here.

Hughton doesn't strike me as a desperado who will throw himself at any job just to get back into work. Strikes me as a bloke with sense who will bide his time and make sure his next move is a good one after Forest. Other than that poor run at the start of this season his CV is very impressive and we could do a lot worse, and I could see merit in offering it him and hoping that he brought back the performance from his Newcastle, Birmingham and Brighton days. Again I don't think he moves in the right circles or has the right connections to crop up here. Woodgate could be a runner. Desperate for a job and easy to bend to whatever plan we have.

Hasselbaink is 50 and has been a manager for nearly a decade. Not young and not up and coming.

Farke is too sensible, too ambitious and too demanding to rock up here. But if he did I would be impressed. Clear to see why he would be interested. This is a club that SHOULD be very attractive. Worth remembering that his first season at Norwich ended in a 14th place finish and they didn't break any pots. But time and they clicked the following season.

Hopefully, because comparing our list to QPRs is like chalk and cheese.

One to keep an eye on is David Lowe's contract. I'm sure I remember it being extended not long ago? Unlikely they will pay him off and will want him to be part of the next setup which will immediately cut the options available.

The 'favourites' for the Rovers job with the bookies are almost identical to those for the Lincoln City job. That sums up the calibre of appointment we are expected to be looking at. Top end Championship ticket prices for League One level appointments.

I think the stuff about his family and values is just him going over old ground. He's often said similar about how tough he has it with his commute and family life but hasn't given the job up, so I don't attach much weight to that. He's on the spot and has to come out with something to try and get his POV across and it sounds better for him if he's being a family man rather than just admitting the truth -that he would like to stay but hasn't heard anything because the owners are out of the loop. Its interesting because not long ago he was talking about going to India after the season had finished. Now he seems to have given up on that idea.

Yes, I remain convinced that the owners will summon him to India at the end of the season, probably expecting him to make the journey anyway, and will be amazed if he declines. I think Mowbray wants to stay and has come with this now because he can't brush the questions off at this late stage. He can't say he is staying because he hasn't been offered the chance to.....yet. So the alternative is that he is going to leave.....as it stands. I don't think these owners have the interest, stomach or desire to bring in a new management team. To be honest I don't see there being any point unless they are going down a new road and spending more or getting a big hitter in. If they just want to continue with the slow 'development' stuff that Mowbray goes on about they might as well give him a new deal, just like they might as well have kept Gary Bowyer than gone through Lambert, Coyle and Mowbray.

Not long ago I was seeing tweets and comments about how Venkys had learned and how there was now a structure at the Club and normality. Then we see the frankly scandalous situation with Mowbray and know that this was all just wishful thinking. I'm far from a fan of Mowbray. I don't particularly like the bloke, admittedly I don't know him but I don't really like his comments or his excuses, and I don't think he's a particularly good manager. Steady, solid, safe but little more. But the events of the last few weeks in particular since the Preston game show these owners and this club up for what they really are - classless, clueless, incompetent, rudderless and a disgrace. To allow a seemingly departing manager to have to answer these questions on his own future, with no comment at all from our owners, CEO or anyone in any position of power is appalling. A quick look at QPR shows how it can be done properly. A simple press release on the Club website, gracious, professional and unambiguous. Presumably such a task is beyond our CEO. Even if we were in the market for a half decent manager it won't go unnoticed that this is a club that goes about its business in a shoddy and unprofessional way. Mowbray needs a change as does the Club but I'm disgusted by the way this has been handled. Anyone there - owners or so-called executives on the payroll should be ashamed of themselves. They can't even get their house in order and deal with a departure with a shred of decency what hope do we have of recruiting a decent replacement?

Bolton, Wigan, Blackpool Three local clubs with similar or less going for them than Rovers. In the last 5 years each hit dire straits after owners left or ran out of money. They were held up as examples of what would happen to us if Venkys left and a reason why we should be grateful to Venkys A few short years later and Blackpool are close behind us in the Championship with bigger gates and upward momentum. Wigan are back in the Championship spending more than we are and Bolton aiming to get out of League One with sensible management and 13,000 season ticket holders. There is life after these idiots.

I've said it before but Liam Manning at MK is having a very impressive season. Looks like they might miss out on automatic by a whisker but finishing above Sunderland and Sheff Wed impressive. Also plays nice football for those who require that when employing a manager.

So 2nd in February to play offs gone with 2 games to play. Some achievement that.

Don't think Warburton has the right connections to be a contender here. Nor do I think he would throw himself at a move to the North West. Grayson would jump at the job and has local connections being based at Brockhall, an ex player and being quite prominent locally through managing Blackpool, Preston and Fleetwood. Also chums with Dunny and had him as assistant manager at Blackpool and Fleetwood. In times gone by I would have embraced Grayson as a Rovers manager but not sure now. His last 2-3 jobs have been short and unsuccessful and I wonder if that coincides with him losing Glyn Snodin as his assistant who was with him in the earlier days. Perhaps a concern a bit like Mark Hughes who is no longer with Bowen and Niedzwicki and has it all to do at Bradford. IF Mowbray goes, and I'm not convinced he will, then I think we can add Grayson to the list with Venus, Johnson, Adkins.

A few issues I have with the theory that Mowbray was to be replaced last summer and that this plan is going to be carried out now: Why go to the trouble of speaking to and identifying options last year, knowing there's a strong chance Mowbray would at least get wind of this on the grapevine, but then stop short of sacking Mowbray, then allow him a whole extra year on top of that? To save money on compensation, reallly? They've just allowed him to pay money for Hedges who was coming for nothing in the summer, they've allowed Lenihan, Rothwell and Nyambe to leave for nothing and rejected cash for Rothwell. So if money was the motive behind their decisions I find it odd that they would persist with a manager for a whole extra year effectively accepting our lot and putting their grand plan on ice for that time just to avoid paying off his final year. I'd like nothing more than to see a well thought out plan come to fruition but don't expect so. I think Venkys are so warped in their ways that they probably don't even know about Mowbrays contract situation and probably don't think it is important anyway. They are likely so arrogant that they expect him to come crawling for a new deal at his inconvenience at a time that suits them. Maybe Mowbray has had enough of waiting now and is going to stick two fingers up at them for messing him around, so they might be surprised to find that for only the 2nd time in 12 years they have a manager who makes his own decision to walk away rather than gratefully accept whatever nonsense they have in mind.

Ainsworth is 49 next week, and has 10 years under his belt at Wycombe. Paul Warne is 49 next week, and has nearly 6 years under his belt at Rotherham. Both have got 100% relegation records in the Championship - Ainsworth 1 season 1 relegation and Warne 3 seasons 3 relegations. So I'm not sure how either can be classed as 'young' or 'up and coming' and neither has done anything to inspire confidence in delivering at Championship level or above. If they did then you might expect bigger or richer clubs to have snapped them up by now.

Capacities are 8000 each in DE and BBE, 11,000 in JW and 4,500 in Riverside Still think we will fall short of 20,000