Kmcalpin

According to Andy Devlin in the Sun, Alan Stubbs has now emerged as front runner to fill our vacancy. Interviews will be concluded today with an appointment possible in the next 48 hours. Stuart McCall has also been interviewed and Chris Sutton is a contender too. Mark McGhee will not be returning.

Its oft quoted that John Collins was difficult to work with and stirred up dressing room unrest. Thats as may be. However, what is most often overlooked is that he left Mixu Paatelinen a poor squad. The squad he left was grossly overhyped by the media (young + Hibs employee = great player). I have been led to believe he left before he was found out. If true, thats worrying. A big name in football terms and an ex OF player but folk shouldn't be taken in by that.

I'm a wee bit puzzled at some of the reaction to Derek Adams and Stuart McCall. Yes, Derek Adams took Ross County to a Cup Final, as did Gordon Chisholm with QOS. But what else did he do? He didn't steer County to promotion for example? Stuart McCall - he might have played for Rangers, and have a knowledge of English football but his track record at Bradford was undistinguished to say the least. If you're going to go for an experienced manager with a track record that track record has to be good. Again I'd reiterate that no-one mentioned so far is an obviously strong candidate.

The club is probably at its lowest point at the moment. Our manager walked out on us in distasteful circumstances, we suffered a frustrating midweek defeat, we're rudderless on the field and there's no sign of a new manager being appointed. All bad news so far. Things will pick up when a new man is appointed - they usually always do, unless the appointment is very unpopular. We've been through this cycle before, many times. As Harri Kampmann famously said "The sun always shines in the morning".

I didn't go along tonight, although I feel a bit guilty about it. Two things dissuaded me 1) a 120 mile round trip on icy roads and 2) the fact that I'd already driven through to Motherwell this week and I can't justify going through twice. I know that the Trust organsied the event before the Hearts game was re-arranged but I'm sure a fair few folk are put off going to FP twice in one midweek. My tuppence worth anyway.

Thats my take on it although its speculation of course.

Oh dear. Is the SFA considering asking other participants in the game for their phones too? If not why not? If it isn't this should not have been made public. Having gone public with this story the ABB have a duty to clarify exactly what the alleged incident was. As Fatcalf has reported this is growing arms and legs. Nothing on their website about it however.

A very strange statement. Its interesting that the term "agreement was reached". More to this than meets the eye probably.

Lets get this right...the investigation is based on a solitary bet and not a pattern?

Steve Jennings booking was very harsh considering it was his first foul of the game and worse went unpunished later. According to the Herald, " The midfielder tapped the referee in the shoulder, then allegedly said “stop cheating us”.

I'd go along with that and thats what I'd have done if I'd been in Gordon Young's shoes. A saftey first stop gap strategy. That said, the tactics were wrong as they have been all season. Too many wingers and not enough strikers. All too often Blackman was given no support.

The problem, once again, was that he was isolated and playing as a single striker against a big defence. Tactics and team selection to blame here, as it has been for much of the season.

Agree with all of that but not Jimmy Calderwood.

Probably true - buy 2 extra half time draw tickets instead.

Cheers Iain, a good idea. It'll benefit the club again.

Can't say I'm enamoured with any of the names being touted so far and I live in hope that JB will go for a surprise choice. Chris McCart has no managerial experience and would be represnt a big risk - he'd also cost us compensation.

You're perhaps turning the point round 180 degrees but its a valid one nonetheless. Since the dawn of Thatcherism, British society has become fixated with success. You have to be a winner/only the best will do. That simply isn't isn't sustainable and the Barcelonas of the world need smaller sides to predate. Take away the prey species and the predators die out. It ain't rocket science. There are many footie "fans" like that but equally many are quite content to support their local team

After the hooha about the article on here and on FPC, I decided to track down the offending piece. Have to agree the author quite plainly has some kind of axe to grind with us and is simply abusing his priveleged position to have ago at us. Poor journalism, and the kind of article that gives his occupation a bad name. At the end of the day, although he's a journalist, his opinion is no more important than ours.

As far as I know the club is acting on this issue to try to tie up the players you mention. Thats as much as it can do. It cannot force players to sign deals. It certainly won't be made any easier if they receive offers from bigger clubs. I would not take all that you've read as being the gospel truth. Your comments about Jim Gannon being pushed out are not accurate for example.

Don't know about that. His playing budget at East End Park was one of the largest for a provincial club and the Pars gained some success only after other clubs like us cut back. At Pittodrie, his budget was way above anything we had at Fir Park.

I can't quite fathom out the attraction of Steve Clarke. On the plus side he's worked in the English Premier League but so what? What has he achieved on his own? He's used to working with extremely expensive players - a luxury never afforded to even Neil Lennon or Walter Smith. I'd rather go for a manager who knew his way aound the lower leagues in England, but someone a wee bit more stable than Jim Gannon.

Thats my take on it too, Steve. He always presents himself very well in the media and is a good ambassador for the club. To that extent he impressed me in the interview. But, he didn't actually say anything of significance or anything that made me sit up - not that I'd have expected him to.

Yes, I read this too. From the way it was written I assume that it wasn't the club who gave the information to the SoS. That being the case, I'd like to read the club's take on this article. Given Craig Brown's success as Head of Youth Development (a post which he held jointly and simultaneously with the post of National Coach) should the club have given him control over youth matters? I'm always suspicious of such articles - I prefer to read a balanced account and then I can form my own view, rather than being spoon fed a loaded opinion.

Excellent post.

Two and a half year deal.