The Cowley one excites me more than any other of the names linked. I worry that people like Hughes and Pearson would be over the hill and not really relish or value the opportunity at Rovers, whereas for Cowley we would be the biggest and best job of his career to date. He would value the opportunity and embrace it. I didn't watch his Lincoln side so don't know the details but the stats are incredible even in the Football League and include two promotions, a cup win and reaching the FA Cup QFs as a non league club. I'd be hesitant if he hadn't taken the step into Championship management but he has and was successful in that job - guiding a basket case sinking ship out of relegation trouble. He didn't lose his job due to failing or poor results but because Huddersfield wanted to deploy a 'head coach' structure which he wasn't prepared to work in. Here he would be left to get on with it (assuming Venkys persist with the operation of the club as it is). I like what I read and hear and think it would be an astute move. Available, worked at this level and below, successful everywhere he has been, still very young and up and coming in management. I've also always liked him after dumping Burnley out of the Cup. Sadly I've probably done more analysis in the 4 paragraphs above than Waggott would do from start to finish in a managerial 'search'. I wouldn't expect any better than Nigel Adkins or Tony Pulis, or Venus/Jonno. Pulis is with the right agent and will be after a job after the Wednesday fiasco, Adkins was closely linked after Coyle was axed. Both will throw themselves at the job and will be easy obvious appointments to make.

Depends who comes in. Why wouldn't we get a wealthy owner or brilliant board with a plan? Bournemouth and Southampton were also in League One when taken over.

Someone who spots an opportunity to get to the Premier League and stay there. That's why most Championship clubs have changed ownership in the last decade. They want the money and glory of the PL and getting a Championship club promoted is the way to do it.

They pull the plug and we go into administration. Then administators run the club and seek a buyer. The only circumstances in which we "don't have a club" are if nobody in the world steps forward to buy it. Portsmouth, Leeds, Leicester, Wigan, Bradford, Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Southampton have all been in administration and survived. Anyone other than Bury not done? We do not owe our existence to Venkys and they are not benefiting the club with their presence. Shame because they could with the money they spend but its their choice not to run it properly so no sympathy there. I'm off to buy a house, smash it to pieces and make it derelict but I'm sure the neighbours will thank me for paying my mortgage on time.

We all know how this unfolds from here. Mowbray won't be sacked and plenty will come up with the pointless suggestion of giving him the rest of the season and review at the end. The trouble is that sooner or later we will string 2-3 results together and also expect the traditional dead rubber good run in the final 5 games of the season. Probably win our last 4 games when there's no pressure or expectation and the opposition are on the beach. These results then sway opinion and pull wool over eyes. People think a corner has been turned. Mowbray can point to those results and argue he's delivering. Then it all repeats again with the same patterns and mistakes.

Established Championship club ✅ Recent history of Premier League football ✅ Squad packed with quality, including 2nd highest scorer in the league and a returning Dack ✅ No forced sales ✅ Owner investment and no interference ✅ Fantastic training ground ✅ Cat A academy top of the tree in the country ✅ Most successful club outside the top division by trophies won ✅ Low expectations from both fans and owners ✅ Its a dream job. If we conducted a proper recruitment process they'd be clamoring over each other for a crack at promotion here. Quite frankly its a disgrace that they'd have us believe Mowbray is the best we can hope for.

It was abundantly clear by 60 minutes last night that Bennett was knackered and to be fair to him who can blame him? First start in months, long term injury, playing RWB on a stodgy wet pitch. We had a full 10-15 minutes of alarm bells and warning signs over that far side as Bennett tired and Barnsley began to have more and more of the ball over there, four or five times they targeted that area and broke through, nearly scoring as a result. A blind man could see what was coming. We persist and make no changes and hey presto we go 1-0 down with the goal coming through that area of the pitch. I wonder to myself if Mowbray and his staff are oblivious to these warning signs or if he's so stubborn or entrenched in making a point to people that he sticks with it rather than take preventative action. Even if you don't start Nyambe I really can't think of anyone better to bring on for 20 minutes to replace knackered Benno in that position.

I remember when Coyle was here but before Mowbray arrived there were whispers about Paul Jewell. I remember being at Rotherham January 2017 time in the pub and there was talk he was being lined up to come in. Then when you see the HSH 'selection' it starts to make sense. Honeyman a lifelong Middlesbrough fan. Coincidence? I think not.

You learn a lot about people by how they react when under pressure (even if only limited or perceived) and their conduct during the difficult times. Extreme end of the scale - Kevin Keegan- recognised the way things were going and threw in the towel at Newcastle twice, England and City, passing up millions in potential compensation because he was man enough to accept he was struggling and he wasn't going to hang around and let things deteriorate further. Others let their teams do the talking and fight back with impressive results. Some just refuse to do the decent right thing and hang on for dear life/ a pay off despite the clear signs. This is normally where a board of directors comes in as they take the decision out of the managers hands. Eventually. No such possibility at the good ship Rovers with captain Mowbray and his loyal assistants in tow.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/danny-cowley-sunderland-favourite-manager-19386650.amp Interesting read for anyone who wants to torture themselves hoping for a manager with a plan and ideas.

If Wagott doesn't even have the power to suggest or recommend a change in manager, is he really worthy of being described as a CEO? Just my opinion but I think making/recommending major decisions that directly determine the performance and success of the club, such as a managerial change, is an integral aspect of being "chief executive" of a football club. If he can't even suggest a change as it isnt in his remit or he's afraid of being axed if he does or he's too cosy with his mate to consider it then what is the point in him being here?

On Dunn again. I'm not sure what being a 'legend' has to do with it. What does that qualify him in? He must be good if he is able to watch our weary performances whilst sat in the dugout at Fleetwood.

No word from our CEO? How long since he made a public appearance or speech? I expect he will know which way things are going and will keep himself hidden until the summer then exit stage left before things turn really sour.

Dunn is now employed as assistant manager at Fleetwood. I actually think it is unprofessional and bordering on inappropriate for him to be going on Twitter discussing these sort of things. I'd be horrified if Mowbray or Venus were on twitter discussing Middlesbrough's tribulations on twitter with their fans.

It's a strange one. There was never any mention of a year option for the club up until Christmas when it suddenly emerged as an apparent 'safety net' leaked to the press to try and calm concerned fans down. I'm not convinced it is actually an option for the club but if it is I suspect Mowbray is revving up for the sale of Nyambe this summer. By ostracizing him now it paves the way for a sale this summer. If he was happy playing every week then he wouldn't push for a move in the summer even if the club activated an extra year on his deal, whereas if the club do that but before then make his position almost intolerable, then any player or agent worth his salt would be actively looking to move on, which might suit Mowbray and others at the club very nicely. For Nyambe to not feature in the squad tonight with him being the only RB at the club I'm afraid is sacking territory in itself. It is one thing throwing Bennett in after the absence he has had but to not even put Nyambe on the bench stinks of sinister goings on.

I'd be on the phone first thing tomorrow to Danny Cowley. Offer him a deal until the end of next season and review at Christmas.

Exactly. If he's going to come out with the old 'get real' routine he'd be better saving it for just after we've been beaten by the 'big boys' like Watford and Norwich. At least referring to PL pedigree would be partly relevant. But doing so after abysmal performances against 3 sides with no recent PL pedigree just shows him up even more. He thinks he is clever but ends up just getting more and more egg on his face.

David Dunn out in force defending Mowbray. Surprise. The same Dunn who was Mowbray's assistant, and also got the job with the u23s when Mowbray was manager, and has been getting free admission to Ewood during the prohibition of fans, now vociferously defending him. Who'd have thought it?

The desperation level comments of an increasingly desperate manager. Attempt to drag expectations down to the level being delivered. He set the target and expectation at top 6. He's falling well short of it. So why is he surprised when people are fed up at being well beaten by QPR, Preston and Barnsley?

I agree. I get no pleasure from wanting him gone. Ideally he would lead us to better things but it just isn't going to happen. We're going backwards rather than forwards. I don't dislike the bloke, I have some good memories from the last 4 years and I think he has brought a lot of good to the club. Sadly though the focus needs to remain on progress, and that isn't going to be achieved unless a change is made and quickly. Emotions, nice guys, memories all pale into insignificance. The club comes first.

Nyambe in, Mowbray out is my preference Game 29 of Mowbray's new journey and we're back to Elliott Bennett at RB. Never mind journey its groundhog day.

I'm not particularly bothered how old they are or what country they are from. I think Rowett and Neil have done good work, better than they get credit for, at smaller or not well funded clubs. If we were in the game of headhunting decent up and coming managers then they would be high on my list. Both know the Championship inside out which is very different to a rookie or lower division manager. Sadly we seem to prefer to do nothing, wait for the job to become vacant and then chose from those desperate for a job. I've no strong preference if it is a 60 year old or 30 year old as long as they can manage.

Bristol City selected Holden for all the same reasons people put forward Johnson as our next manager: Already at the club. Cheaper. Trying to be clever rather than going down the tried and tested route. An inexperienced coach who won't rock the boat. People want a 'new' name with 'fresh' ideas. It very rarely works out. Meanwhile seasoned campaigners McCarthy and Warnock once again proving their abilities in turning around disaster zones in a matter of weeks to the cusp of the play offs.

Mowbray is just going to use Nyambe as the scapegoat for his own failings, in much the same why as he did with David Raya. Fast forward a few months and Nyambe will be down the road. Mowbray will paint him as uncommitted or not good or reliable enough for our 'system' and 'tactics' and promise we will do better. Then we will be linked with a raft of established 'big names' who pass the summer window with fans salivating at the prospect only to end up late on with a loan of either a kid from a Premier League club or senior player unwanted at his parent club. Then its rinse and repeat next season. "Not my fault" says Mowbray "it will all be better next season when I've signed a proper RB/LB/GK" Then by the time we realise nowts changed another year has gone. Nyambe's not perfect but he's good enough and a better management team would iron out the issues and have him excelling. Sadly we've a second rate management team who have a 4 year track record of not being able to put out a decent defence and just about everyone to appear in Mowbray's defence has either stood still or regressed. Someone like Allardyce or McCarthy would have the same group drilled so much better. Infact any manager who takes the defensive side of the game seriously would.

I think it is probably a combination of a few things that have led to the increasingly bizarre and unhinged comments from Mowbray. Going off his performance and decision making in games it is clear there is an element of losing the plot. When you end up like we did against Preston you have to wonder what is going through his head. Quite obvious that his head goes west during games especially when we are behind and he has no idea how to turn a game. The stats prove that. I expect that he is also feeling pressure from several angles. Having sold his project to India and been well backed on it yet be no further on than 2 years ago he will be expecting scrutiny or restlessness in India as it becomes clear even to the slower folk that the playoffs ain't happening. Of course at a normal club he would be under pressure. But here it is probably more just expected pressure than real with these owners. He obviously doesn't like pressure or questions from the support base and is probably realising that all his stalling for time and excuses over the last 2.5 years are wearing thin. He comes with baggage of Venus and Waggo so will also be trying to preserve their positions. He needs putting out of his misery now. Trouble is that we will pluck a win or two from somewhere and then it will be 'back on track' etc. safe as houses because we are 'only' x points off the top six.