Malky79

To be honest with the european games still a few weeks away I'd hope we have someone in for the ties themselves if not the entirety of the preparation. Not so much for the sake of our european adventure but to give the new guy ample time to assess the squad and make signings. Depending on who we looking at(compensation issues which could lengthen the process) and who applies I'd hope that 7-10 days from now we would be on the verge of making that decision at the latest.

I can see McGhee wanting him, but even if he only got a year on his contract we'd be mad accepting any less than £500k and I do not see Aberdeen having that kind of money to spend.

I reckon Hughes might end up there. I don't see Smith going that way. McLean a possibility, least as a squad player though don't see him being number one target. Don't see any of our under contract players heading north, between paying of Calderwood and poaching McGhee I reckon it'll be free transfers only for Aberdeen.

Quite agree, if someone with an unblemished and proven track record applies by all means give them the job. Hell if some with a slightly tarnished but relatively proven record applies(that doesn't include bobby williamson, I said slightly tarnished not abysmal) by all means give it them if their record is the best. But there is a serious liklihood we going to have to talent spot and keep our fingers crossed. Of all the relatively untried names mentioned Nijholt is the one who has quietly built up the most impressive coaching CV, still somewhat unknown quantity as a manager but I'd have him ahead of McCart who might be brilliant but has largely worked on the youth side of things. He my first choice at the moment but if we can poach someone with proven quality fantastic!

Every team talk would have to revlove around the theme of, "Go out there and do it boys, think of your next contract, possibly at a bigger club!"

Pretty much aye.

I voted aye but only cause I reckon he a sleekit bastard and wouldn't put it past him to see Aberdeen negociations fall through, Well fans go mental about him staying. He comes to an agreement with Boyle to go and ends up slinking up to manage at Pittodrie or elsewhere with us getting no compensation. In reality he no welcome though.

My memory of Butcher's team was that during first couple of seasons we played or tried to play decent fitba on the deck. Very sporadically during the season we finished bottom and more consistently if not quite as pleasing to the eye during season after on way to cup final and top 6. Long ball did creep in more and more though towards the end as we ground out results though and I do agree he'd be a step back.

Aye just not the scattergun approach to picking players to sit on it mind!

Very different circumstances. I liked Terry but could see things were drifting away and we'd probably have been showing him the door eventually if things continued as they were. Not to say we shouldn't have gotten some compensation, was it ever definate we didn't anyway, but one thing letting some go easy for a move somewhere like Sydney and another when they moving to an SPL rival. So get in and screw the sheep for all we can get, but mind and make sure we not left with McGhee but I not fussed over the Butcher compensation issue.

Bit concerned but not much. Plenty time to get players in yet, hopefully everyone else is fit and they got a couple of european games to impress the new manager in. Bit of luck more than just two but with europe being something of a bonus rather than hard fought for reward if we not in good shape for that I'll live with it. But long time yet until both new league campaign and the transfer deadline. I'll get worries if the squad looks like it does say 5 or 6 weeks from now.

If we going to indulge in the world of complete fantasy then I do thins somewhat similar. I'd invest big time in the infrastructure, new stadium with a hefty chunk of stadium with your safe standing areas that can be doubled up as seating until I can bribe the SPL into changing that stupid rule and we get some teracing back Youth acadamy and so on, if it can be down near Fir Park brilliant. Buy out Knowetop from council to provide more land for the new stadium, do a deal to get land on old Motherwell college or fir park school way if it at all doable to have the whole shebang more or less where it is. Facilities for use for local public also as much as possible to try and make sure club gets involved with the community as much as it can. I'd not go Abramavich mental but gate prices be reduced to nominal amounts and the new manager budget would be increased a fair bit to try and slowly build a team and a solid foundation whilst I get an idea of the running costs and what is and isn't sustainable. They'd be no 80k a week wages, but enough added to compete with the old firm for players and try and settle in for long haul of building year on year as much as possible. Not sure who the new manager be, probably give Nijholt his chance as not gonna tempt Moyes or anyone that established unless promise him silly money. Anyone we spend big on will have potential to recoup money on unlike the Spencer, Goram era spending.

I can't imagine him being here. It seems to ridiculous a concept for my mind to comprehend at this point. I think I'd be enraged, but eh I could probably be defused albeit grudgingly if we fly up the league and challenge for europe playing some of the excellent first season of McGhee football. I'd probably take a double delight in knowing that this time he'd surely get a job soon and he be off, hopefully leaving the new man, Nijholt or whoever to come in and continue the work and we get a euro adventure with a manager that hopefully won't go bonkers at the big games and who then adds a player or two to areas we been crying out for and and we maybe even win something, or get get to europa league group stage which be almost as good.

Given it Aberdeen he likely going to, I'd be a bit wary I suppose but I wouldn't get to hot under the collar unless Boyle comes out and says there an interview panel and it made up of Mark McGhee, Maurice Malpas and Pat Nevin.

Very possibly not. On the new manager front I copied this of one of the more recent stories up on BBC website. "John Hartson has joined Ian McCall, Alex Rae, Steven Pressley, Eddie May and Gordon Chisholm among those vying for the Falkirk's managerial vacancy." You can probably safely assume anyone interested in Falkirk job might be looking at ourselves. Obviously a few Falkirk connections there but you never know.

Lol wonder if he'll bring in Frank McAvennie as his assistant? Didn't recall him being at Swindon with Nijholt.

Not sure if they were top of league or not, but Campbell left on 2 October 2007, the majority of the season lying ahead. I think Adams can take a fair portion of the credit for promotion.

Some people are just drama queens I suspect. I see Ian McCall get bashed a bit and I not his biggest fan, seems like a bit of a fud. But his record isn't all that bad, didn't set the heather alight at Utd but otherwise generally does a decent job in the circumstances.

If Craigan has the passion for the job(and the coaching badges) then mibbes. My bigger concern is that we need him fully focused on the playing side still. Get the feeling he is eyeing up a media career rather than a coaching one. Seems intelligent enough lad and might well make a good manager but seems a bit young. Potentially a good number two for the new guy maybe.

Not my first choice but he also got County promoted. Decent enough start to his managerial career. Tommy McLean had one season at Morton under his belt before we appointed him. Experience is a definate bonus but lets face it experienced or inexperienced it can be a bit of a lottery appointing the right guy. I'll be happy with whoever provided we can avoid proven failures like Duffy, Williamson etc.

new guy is dutch, dunno if that make a difference. But if Nijholt leaves then we might do a lot worse. My biggest concern is we are not quite up shit creek without a paddle at the moment but the paddle looks like it has woodworm. Would hate to see him come in, have a miniscule budget and struggle. Hoping we decent comp for McGhee and Leitch who both doubled wages last season, get a bit of money back in the player budget, fingers crossed the TV money doesn't evaporate, and we get to watch some Dutch style total football and back to sort of stuff we had in McGhee's first season. :-)

Is an appeal to that, but would McCart be ready to quit his role at Celtic so soon? Head of Youth development, seems to be a decent gig that he not that long in the door at?

If we do go with a relative rookie manager I'd love to see Nijholt come in. His one management job was from recollection not a disaster, and has plenty experience as number 2 at some good teams. Still prefer someone a bit more experienced, but no Craig Brown. Was awful at Preston and I don't think he managed any other club but Clyde. He'd have gotten nowhere near a decent job if it wasn't for dreadful way SFA operates.

Damn right as no one in their right mind would agree with you. 14 goals this season and 14 goals last season. On top of losing McCormack and Porter just where are goals likely to come from. You think for that sort of money we'd find someone better? Mental plain mental!

Aye but you know it's true. Not saying you wouldn't criticise where it deserved but you'd bite the bullet.