JHRover

Woodgate is one that would tick several boxes. The usual ones being available, cheap, keen to get back into it and would be grateful for a chance at the job. There will also be some baseless assumption that he would 'work with' 'young' players which they seem obsessed with. Then there's the Teesside Middlesbrough connection - would lead me to conclude Mowbray had recommended him or pushed for him. Would work with those already here including Venus no doubt. Presumably Middlesbrough fan Honeyman is also a big fan of his? No matter that he's as dull as dishwater and failed miserably at Middlesbrough before Warnock came in and did a rescue act. Who cares about little things like that?

A while ago I suggested that the reason Lenihan, Rothwell and Nyambe were leaving was because the Club and owners had done nothing to keep them. That the situation had been allowed to drift by silent owners and that whatever offers were put to them, if any, were derisory. I was shot down for that suggestion, accused of creating conspiracy theories and that because Mowbray and Waggott had said that 'improved' offers had been made to these players that we should believe them and that it was actually money motivated players and their agents that were the only issues here. And now we see our manager publicly admitting that he has had absolutely no communication from the owners or their representative on his future, his contract and that he hasn't spoken properly to the owners for a long time, save for a 'best of luck' message from Balaji recently. I'm afraid Mowbray's comments this week, and the continuing silence from the Club, only support my 'conspiracy theory' that the owners have turned the phone and taps off and have left the club to drift over the last couple of seasons. That is the reason key players are out of contract and our manager seems to be off, not because they've told him this or they want to make a change, but because it is just silence.

The club has had plenty of national credit for its steps in 'integration' with things such as the Eid on the pitch the other day. Waggott found time in his busy schedule to turn up for that, meet everyone and give interviews and his thoughts on how great it was and how we are the first Club to do such a thing. Well done, pats on the back. Yet he's stayed absolutely silent for months on the far greater issue of the Club's future direction and management situation, even leaving Mowbray to deal with those questions himself between the Preston and Bournemouth games. It is completely unacceptable. He is the CEO of the Football Club. It is his job to provide answers to important questions, clarity as to what is happening and show leadership. He has certainly failed on those fronts. Good work has been done but this pales into insignificance when unwilling or unable to do the most important things. Time to resign.

And if we look into League One it is a similar story. Rotherham, Sheff Wed and Wycombe went down last year = in the top 6 this. Wigan big spenders and were in the Championship recently. Sunderland big spenders and in the Championship recently. Once upon a time you'd get a few small clubs coming through - when we were in League One Shrewsbury and Scunthorpe mounted an automatic promotion push.

Looking forward to hearing Waggott's side of the story, not that I believe a word he says. But until then whilst the silence continues I'll maintain he and the Club he 'directs' have behaved disgracefully so far.

The ball is in their court. I'm in no rush to renew and will happily pay £30 more if it means waiting to see who turns up. I'm past the point of this nonsense. I almost didn't renew last year. Covid has taught me I can do other things if needed.

Mark Robins has signed a new deal at Coventry. So there's the only remotely decent HSH option off the list, not that he was ever going to leave a secure job there to come here.

Completely agree with this. He's their man. He was one of the small number of names that got mentioned in February 2017 before Mowbray turned up here. There is clearly a policy here of employing managers who have a PL promotion on their CV - Lambert, Coyle, Warnock (almost), Mowbray Most importantly Adkins would do the job how they want it - he would work with Lowe and Benson and limit his coaching demands to being able to appoint his old mate Crosby (similar to Mowbray with Venus). He has that uber positive attitude and mentality which borders on nonsensical at times but would go down well in the Pune bungalow in the annual summit meeting.

Lambert's departure was announced well before the end of the season finale. So much so that at Rotherham for his final game many fans were singing "Paul Lambert, We want you to stay". Infact just about any reasonable, professional, competent Club would by now have released some form of statement about the manager's future rather than leaving him to deal with it and the media alone. The coward Waggott can hide away and hope this all blows over but I know what he is - masquerading as a CEO when he probably can't even order a bag of grass seed without Indian approval.

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.