MelvinBragg

I'm kind of caught on the horns of a dilemma here. I want the club to take their time and get the right man in. But our first competitive game is in two and a half weeks. I'm just hoping that John Boyle had a think about it and sounded out a few people on the quiet as soon as the Aberdeen and Celtic jobs became available...

Brian Reid was a name I thought of yesterday. Would be a gamble, and to be honest I'd like to see someone with more experience (some South of the border), but I wouldn't be heartbroken if he were the choice. I would think we would need to be looking at an assistant with a bit of experience though. How about the Brian Reid/Luc Nijholt combo??

Would never happen, but the issue I would have is, if it didn't work out would the money go as soon as you needed a new manager? Very dangerous game...

What odds do they give on us getting relegated?

Too early to say, but I'd reckon you'd be looking at Butcher and McAllister with the bookies. I don't think either of them will get it, but as they're the early names mentioned, I reckon they'll be installed as favourites...

Aye, the Gary McAllister link was alwasy going to come. But if I remember rightly, he's been linked with a coaching position at Liverpool, in the shake up that's going to see Dalglish return as technical director. Maybe rules him out...

I find myself wondering if Boyle may repeat the trick of a couple of years ago and find it easier to bring in a number two with Motherwell connections first, just to keep things ticking over and give him time to get the right manager in. And, of course, possibly save money in case the new man wants to bring a full backroom team with him. Obviously it's early days yet, but I'd be interested who the media will push forward as the runners and riders for the job. Butcher's name's been mentioned but I reckon that's just lazy journalism...

If they're trying to make it sound like he was desperate to leave, they've succeeded...

McGhee was in the paper yesterday getting all sentimental about the pull of Aberdeen for him and how talks had went well and it was just a couple of things and compensation to be sorted out. I'd say that's all the confirmation we need. If Boyle wanted to play hardball, he could try and keep him but do we really want a manager here who wants to be somewhere else? I'd say it's safe to assume he's away...

I have to add at this point that my last post was not having a go at Luc Nijholt. Never would I hear a bad word said about my favourite ever Motherwell player. Maybe that's part of the reason I don't want him to get the job. As Frazzle posted in the thread suggesting Colin O'Neill, do we really want a Motherwell legend to tarnish his status? Looking at that list, I don't think there's anyone who would win universal approval. Having said that, I think Luc would be a populist appointment. He would get time (as other Well legends would - though he's the only one I reckon is a serious candidate) that a manager without previous connection to the club would. And it's not like the Shearer appointment at Newcastle, he has experience coaching. I just don't know if what's going to be a tough season next year is the right time for an experimental but populist appointments...

Interestingly most of the people who have voted for him in this poll could not answer that question for you. A serious case of heart ruling the head. Not saying he'd be a poor manager. But had he not played for Motherwell and his managerial CV was submitted for the job, I suspect it would be fired in the bin...

He's away. His misty eyed comments in the paper today are a clear signal to John Boyle saying he wants to go. And no club can seriously consider going forward with a manager who so clearly doesn't want to be at that club...

Nijholt and Boyd??

Perhaps whether Leitch stays or goes is one of the things that has to be sorted out in the next few days. Nijholt and McCart would appeal sentimentally, and both have coaching experience. But I'd rather have someone with some experiene as a number one...

You say that but any time there's a management job in football, there's a queue around the block for it. OK, some of the candidates will be better than others (remember Joe Miller applied the last time ), but there will be someone in there who will meet our needs. The easy task the Motherwell board now have is finding the diamond in the rough...

I'd be in favour of someone like Jim Gannon assisted by Chris McCart/Tom Boyd/Luc Nijholt. Someone with experience and contacts in England, knowledge of players down there, assisted by someone who knows the club. Gannon is just an example but my blueprint would be MANAGER At least 3 years experience of management, preferably sometime in England. ASSISTANT Knowledge of Motherwell and the way the club works. Some coaching experience. I know that's basically McGhee and Leitch, but if it worked out ok last time, why not...?

"You're just a traitorous sheep shagging bastard..."

Not any more, my friend...

Of the names mentioned, I reckon Duffy's career is on the way down and he'll not be likely to get offered an SPL gig again, and Tommy McLean for all he is a legend, his time is past. I'm working on the assumption that Leitch is leaving with McGhee. Like a few people, I'd like to see Chris McCart feature somewhere in the club's thinking, even if only as a number 2 to a more experienced man. Ideally, we're looking at a similar set up to McGhee and Leitch. An experienced manager, not necessarily with ties to the club, assisted by someone who knows the club and how things work around the place. McCart would be my choice there, particularly as he knows most of the squad. If he's not available/affordable, I'm sure there are other ex Well players people will suggest. As to who the more experienced man would be, sadly I don't know who's out of work and available, but I suspect John Boyle has been thinking about it for some time...

I know this may come as a surprise to some people but I'm not dancing in the streets with the departure of McGhee. Never said he was a bad manager and if ever there was a summer when we don't have time to be messing about looking for a new manager, this was it. However, what's done is done and we move on, at least it's been sorted relatively quickly (I had visions of this dragging on for weeks). As myself and others have pointed out, as soon as Strachan and Calderwood left their posts, John Boyle should have a had a wee 'BREAK GLASS' list made up. I fully expect us to invite applications, but I'd be disappointed if we didn't have at least a couple of names in mind who might be suitable. Mind you, who'd have thought an ex-Reading and Wolves manager would have applied the last time? An interesting week lies ahead...

Not a problem, really. None of them are staying at Fir Park so it doesn't really bother me where they end up. And while they're all decent players, I'm not worrying about how we'll cope without them...

I read that as 'Physio for Manager's Job'. I thought, jeezo, John Porteous, there's a name I hadn't thought of... PS There's already a thread about who we want as manager?

No need to hit the panic button just yet. Our squad is no worse (some might argue it's better) than when McGhee took over. The squad is thin, but it was thin then. And a few folk were interested in the job then, without the carrot of European football. The calibre of applicants might surprise us...

Aberdeen can have McGhee and we can discuss compensation for that. But Clarkson for £300,000??? Away and bite ma shite...

Don't be putting words (or anything else) in my mouth...