MelvinBragg

I'd like to think you're right and JB's talk of convincing Shovelface to stay was just a negotiating tool. Let's just hope so, eh...?

Part of me agrees with you, Steve, to say "Gaun yerself..." to John Boyle. But another part of me just wants this over and done with so we can move on. More time spent arguing with Willie Miller, less time available to spend looking at CVs...

Aye, you're right in a sense. No use McGhee leaving us 16 players if the new guy didn't like 5 or 6 of them, only giving him 10 he really wanted. But if the new guy doesn't like 5 or 6 of the ones we have at the moment, he'll be enrolling us in a 5 a side league...

It's a fair point you make but a new guy will have to bring in quite a few players in a short space of time to get anything resembling a squad together. As it stands (counting players who've played more than 5 first team games - for anybody) GK Fraser (although there is talk on another thread that pre-contracts might not be binding) DF Quinn Hammell Craigan Reynolds MF Lasley Fitzpatrick O'Brien McGarry DL Smith FW Clarkson Sutton Murphy are the players we have under contract. By my reckoning we have enough for a 4-4-2 with a couple of subs. Even then a midfield of O'Brien Fitzpatrick Lasley McGarry doesn't fill me glee. I appreciate the new guy will have a blank canvas, but he'll also have a lot of work on his hands...

Latest name I've heard thrown into the mix is Neale Cooper. Surely not??

I think that prior to this I would have agreed with you. I had no problem returning last year following his dalliance with Hearts. I think the utter disrespect he has shown our club since then just leaves too bitter a taste in my mouth. No mention of Motherwell whatsoever in his Sunday Herald comments, the fact that as this all rages on he has left a threadbare squad leads me to believe he never had any intention of starting next season with Motherwell, it just sickens me a bit too much. Sorry if that sounds like me being a grumpy old sod. Mibbe cos I am a grumpy old sod...

Well aware I'd be in the minority. Like I said, I just think I'd personally find it too hard to stomach...

Not an outrageous idea. The nature of football being as it is, any management team will probably have a two to three year run at a club at the moment. So while this time might be a bit early for him, I think he's probably a good shout next time around...

I know this is a very very long shot but should McGhee still be at Fir Park next season, I wouldn't be at a game until he left. I've put up with rubbish managers, rubbish teams and all sorts, but I think it would be impossible to stomach seeing him in the dug out now. And to dig out an old favourite. Just my opinion, mind...

Feel free...

The three names that Andy Devlin mentions in the Sun this morning are Chris McCart, Gary McAllister and Luc Nijholt. Any of those three would be fine with me if we get the choice of assistant right. With McAllister and Nijholt, I reckon we'd need to find an assistant who has worked recently in the Scottish game. With McCart, I'd like someone more experienced alongside him. Thing is, all three of these guys bring with them a degree of a gamble. However, none of the other names that have been discussed on this forum (Chisholm, Billy Reid, Brian Reid, Derek Adams) inspire much confidence or excitement. As I've said elsewhere on this forum, this could be a tricky appointment for John Boyle to get right...

I still reckon Calderwood would prefer a chance at managing in England at the moment. For some reason, I just don't see him being interested in the Motherwell job. Would I be happy with him as manager? Well, he can positively influence a game with a substitution/tactical change so that's one up on McGhee. Unfortunately, his transfer record is as patchy as that of McGhee...

That is good to hear although less encouraging to read in The Sun is the fact that it could be next week before anything is resolved. I know Aberdeen are probably counting on the fact that we are working within a short time frame and need things sorted and it might help them drive the price down. I don't envy Boyle in the hard balancing act he's having to manage between getting this sorted ASAP and making sure we don't get fleeced...

While there will be those who still dislike John Boyle (and I respect their strength of feeling and reasons on that), there can be no argument that he's done himself no end of good PR wise recently...

Great performance that sticks in the mind even though we didn't win was a 1-1 draw with Hearts in the 90/91 season. Pishing down all game, seem to remember we were all over them and had something like 3 goals chopped off. Could also have been the day that Stevie Kirk flattened a linesman...

I could see why Paul Quinn might attract more suitors that the other two given his attitude towards winning and his physical attributes. I wouldn't want to lose him but if forced to say which of the three we must keep, it would be Clarkson...

Aye, hence my rabbit out of a hat comment. I think because of the real dearth of managerial talent in Scotland that will be available on our budget, this will be a real test of John Boyle. There is no 'obvious' candidate who meets our needs. We can only hope that someone that isn't even on the radar applies and impresses or that John Boyle really uses his imagination and pulls a blinder. His handling of the Ian McCall story suggests he's in form...

Hard to argue with that assessment, though I'm told that at least one of them will be sold this summer to raise some funds. And it'll be up to the new manager which of the three it is. My own preference? Reynolds...

Only problem is that we have the potential of Aberdeen getting fed up waiting and Celtic not giving him the job and we find ourselves stuck with a guy who, for a lot of the fans, has burnt his bridges now and who, with the best will in the world, would not be coming to the job with the greatest enthusiasm...

For me a lot of the names being mentioned here are unrealistic. Hoddle and Keegan are two guys we could never get. Even Calderwood left Aberdeen because he was unhappy at having to trim his squad, hardly making him likely to want to come to Fir Park. Davie Hay and Tommy McLean are guys who could probably do without the hassle of full time SPL management these days (Hay just keeps getting left holding the baby at Livingston), and it could be argued they are managers from when football was a very different game (too much player power these days for wee Tommy, I reckon). I reckon Gary McAllister won't move back and if he thought the job was difficult two years ago, it's even more so now. So who are we left with? Lambert, Nijholt, someone doing well in the English lower leagues, Chisholm, Brian Reid or Derek Adams are the realistic names being mentioned. Unless JB pulls a rabbit out of the hat again. Is it any wonder that Nijholt out of that list is the name causing the most excitement...?

For what it's worth, I don't think we'll get Luc Nijholt. My gut (and my source) leads me to believe that Gordon Chisholm would be first choice. I just think, given the strengthening the squad requires, we need someone who can call upon knowledge and contacts outside of Scottish football to pick up signings. We don't need to be competing with Hibs, Dundee Utd, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen for players. That's why my choice would be Nijholt, McAllister or Gannon. Were it to be Nijholt, someone experienced like Tommy McLean who still knows Scottish football would be ideal as an assistant. But like I say, I reckon we'll be shopping closer to home this summer...

My nightmare scenario. Not because I don't rate McGhee. But I don't particularly want a manager who doesn't really want to be here and would be looking enviously at the other dugouts when we go to Pittodrie and Celtic Park...

It's not like McLeish or Davies. He has managed in the Dutch lower leagues. And coached with Adrianse and Van Gaal. Not like he's just hung up his boots. Feyenoord considered appointing him as interim head coach this year. If they thought, even for a second, that he was capable of the job, it suggests to me that there are those within Dutch football who rate the guy. And might be willing to let their young players out on loan to learn under his stewardship...

Aye, as did Martin O'Neill. Difference is neither of those guys was leaving to join a club in the same division. Conflict of interests...?