Last week, League Manager’s Association chief executive Richard Bevan revealed that 29 managers being sacked in the first half of the season was a new record. If this trend continues for the rest of the season, then the highest ever number of managerial dismissals will have been recorded over the past ten seasons. That of course means plenty of jobs are available, and it is usually the same old names who appear to be linked to such vacancies.
When it comes to the Football League, especially in League One and League Two, as soon as a manager’s job becomes available, you just know certain candidates will have already forwarded on their CV. Nothing wrong with that of course, especially as there are certainly many more prosperous managers than actual jobs as a football manager. Nevertheless, we take a look at seven names which seem to have been mentioned in the running for more than their fair share of jobs.
Mark Cooper
Being honest, Mark Cooper was the first person I thought about when it came to writing this article. I actually do rate him as a manager, especially for what he did with Swindon Town last season. They were only a game away from the Championship, they just unfortunately ran into an exceptional Preston North End side at Wembley Stadium. Since leaving Swindon in October, he has literally been linked with most jobs going. Scunthorpe United is the latest one, and he has already openly said that he wants the job. Notts County were also heavily linked to him. Chesterfield was another one. Walsall and Leyton Orient too. There will probably be more, especially until he gets a job! He deserves another job somewhere down the line, by law of averages, he’ll get one eventually!
Lee Clark
Clark was immediately the next person I thought about when it came to doing this article. If we roll back to the start of his management career with Huddersfield Town, it seems as though he was set for a long and prosperous stint in football management. He guided over a series of records, including a 43-game Football League unbeaten run. Like Cooper, he too suffered play-off final heartache. He walked into a difficult job at Birmingham City and eventually left with a poor win percentage ratio. The less said about his time at Blackpool the better, it would’ve been tough for anyone however. He is another name constantly linked to vacancies, most of them similar to Cooper. Notts County, Leyton Orient, Walsall, even former club Fulham briefly.
Michael Appleton
Remember those couple of years when Michael Appleton literally won the race to every managerial job going. Out of nowhere his name was linked with every job, even before he took up his first managerial post with Portsmouth. He clearly came with a big reputation based on his time coaching with West Bromwich Albion. He walked into a tremendously difficult job at Portsmouth, right at the time when their financial situation was at its worst. He then moved onto Blackpool, only last eleven games. He then popped up at Blackburn Rovers, lasting only 67 days. Clearly there was a good manager trying to get out, and we are now seeing that at Oxford United. The FA Cup win over Swansea City earlier this season will attract the headlines, as will their excellent run in League Two and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy journey. Now he is doing well again, his name is being brandished with several jobs. He is however I talks to extend his contract at the Kassam Stadium.
Chris Wilder
To be fair, a lot of these managers are linked with most jobs because they are successful with their current clubs. The out of work names will obviously pop up naturally when certain jobs becomes available. The same applies to those doing well in their current roles, and like Appleton, Chris Wilder fits firmly into that category. Earlier this season Northampton Town were in a financial mess and were struggled to pay their players and staff. Many felt that Wilder would jump ship and seek a challenge elsewhere. Nevertheless, he always maintained that he wanted to stay and he has done just that. The club have been taken over and they continue to fly high in League Two. If Northampton were struggling, Wilder’s name wouldn’t be mentioned more than likely, but just because he is doing well in a lower league doesn’t necessarily mean he would jump ship to a higher league. Championship side Rotherham United were supposedly interested in him, but he shrugged it off, and they are obviously two levels higher than the Cobblers. Plus they are a former club of his.
Paul Tisdale
You get the impression that Tisdale’s name is mentioned with other clubs purely because he has been at Exeter City so long! Obviously he is a top football manager and deserves credit for everything he has achieved at St James’ Park, but if he has stayed this long, why would he move on now? Another obvious fact is that he will leave Exeter City one day and when it does come, it will be a sad day for the club and Tisdale himself. Finances are very tight with the Devon club and Tisdale even once registered himself as a player because of a player shortage. He is closing in on 500 games in management with the League Two club and that obviously deserves credit. His name does get chucked into the betting for most jobs but he clearly holds an extremely strong affinity with the Grecians now. It would take something quite special to prize him away you feel.
Chris Powell
It was a surprise to quite a lot of people when we heard Chris Powell was sacked by Huddersfield Town earlier this season. Some Huddersfield fans may find that surprising, but it was a genuine shock to many football people. He was steady with the club, keeping them ticking along nicely, not really pushing for promotion, but just about keeping them above the drop zone. This season was a big struggle however, so maybe a change was needed. He managed over 150 games at Championship level with Charlton Athletic, only for unpopular owner Roland Duchatalet to move him on. Now here we have another good football manager. Highly respected in the game by anyone who comes across him. Players would instantly respect him. He did reveal not long ago that he would be prepared to return to Charlton if they wanted him back. He is another name linked with many jobs. He’ll get one eventually.
Gary Johnson
Here we have a highly experienced football manager. Even at international level can we say that Gary Johnson has plied his trade, during a brief spell as Latvia head coach. He has had a successful career, most notably during two spells with Yeovil Town. Firstly getting them into the Football League during his first spell, and then amazingly taking them into the second tier in his second spell. He certainly over-achieved by doing that, and the club has unfortunately gone backwards ever since. Now, Johnson is doing good things with Cheltenham Town in the National League. You feel his name is linked with most jobs, because he probably would be willing to take on most challenges. Perhaps now isn’t the time to walk away from a title challenge with Cheltenham however! He’ll stick it out, but if they miss out, it wouldn’t be a great shock to see him leave in the summer. He is proven at a much higher level, so his name will be linked with most Football League jobs for the foreseeable future you’d think.
We’ll have obviously missed off certain names from this list and if there are any more than you can think of, then please drop us a comment. We’re quite interested to hear some of the names you come up with!
