MelvinBragg

Aye, when I read the list of those "on the shortlist and being interviewed", I thought to myself, well, that's them just taken the name of the two guys who've declared an interest publicly and added in the two guys most recently linked with it. I, like you, expect to be surprised but not only by those interviewed (should it ever come to light) but by whoever gets the job...

He can be interested all he likes. Not welcome round these parts...

Eh, we have two centre midfielders on the books. After Lasley and Fitzpatrick, it's either boys who've never kicked a ball in anger for us, Paul Quinn or Steven McGarry. While I like the idea of more defensive cover, it wouldn't have been my priority...

While I welcome the news that we're apparently improving the depth of our squad, left back seems a strange place to start. Especially since, as others on here have pointed out, Stevie Hammell led us for assists by some way last season...

Yet some would accept £300,000 for him. How much would relegation actually cost us...?

Change 'as' to 'of' or add return after the word squad...

My thinking is that of the names mentioned Boyle was either going to go for Luc Nijholt or Gary McAllister. Given the Setanta debacle is rolling on, I think McAllister will have passed on it, and I reckon when it came down to it, Nijholt just seemed an appointment too risky to Boyle...

Altogether now.. "Your hometown, yoooouuuurrrr hooommmetown..." At last a manager with some balls...

Hadn't actually considered that. Distinct possibility...

That's my guess...

OK, who do you think it will be? Not who you want it to be, but who do you think we'll see paraded with the Claret and Amber scarf whenever it happens...? EDIT Open question by the way, not just aimed at Lobey. What are people's gut instincts telling them? Not "I've heard from a reliable HP sauce that...". Given the rumours that have done the rounds, who do you think we'll bring in...?

Either he's trying to throw them off the scent, or the suggestion that there have already been interviews is nonsense. I'd like to believe we're close to appointing someone, because if it's going to take us at least two weeks from today, then we're really dragging our feet. I don't personally think we'll have someone in for Monday, I'd settle for this time next week...

And question is, do you think his name will be Steve Staunton...?

No, I quite fancy dark skinned latin types myself . On a serious note, I think the reason his name hasn't been mentioned in the last 24 hours is the fact that he seems to have distanced himself from the original story which stated he'd be interested...

It strikes me that people are now bored after an initial frenzy of speculation and the appointment of a new manager will be greeted with "Oh, it's him, ho hum". Which is quite sad really...

That thought had occured to me as well. Hence the ...

That's the cynics on here told...

I'd be surprised if Staunton was our new manager. Surpised but not stunned or gobsmacked. McGhee's name came out of nowhere last time as did those of Alex McLeish and Harri Kampman. And those worked out OK . I've been saying for a few days now that I expected an appointment out of leftfield. Ignoring his record for the Republic of Ireland (expectations have been a bit high post-Charlton in that country), appointing someone who's never been a club manager would certainly be out of leftfield. Might stop people questioning Nijholt's level of experience...

While I agree to an extent with yerself and the esteemed Mr Elder, if that part in bold is true, we'll really be dragging our feet. The first game is on the 2nd of July. Sheepy McShovelface left on the 12th June and had been on his way out for about a week before that (some might say for about 18 months before ), so surely having a manager in for the start of July is not too much to ask for...?

Now that's what I call getting ahead of yourself...

I'm assuming it's kind of a token reference to Scottish football "We might not be interested in Mowbray being Celtic manager, but Lee Beevers now will be...". Like you, I was puzzled by the reference but that's the only thing I can come up with...

I'm assuming from Lincoln's official site, Ricky? Nothing definite there but certainly sounds like they think he's coming to Fir Park. Which begs the question, IF this turns out to be true, who is making the decision to sign players at the moment? I mentioned in relation to the Patrick Boyle story as well. It's all very well saying that any manager coming into a club has to work with the players at his disposal, but to bring in new players who will take up a wage whether the new man wants them or not, would seem a very strange decision to me. I'm all for strengthening the squad, we all know it needs it. But I don't want us to find ourselves with a couple of Simon Mensing situations developing...

I know it had been said earlier that Scott Leitch would be remaining in charge until a new man had been found, but I read in an article that Rickoza posted on the Other Football forum that Leitch is currently in Sweden studying for his UEFA pro license. Does this mean that this idea has been binned? Or does it now mean that we expect the new manager to be in place for the start of pre-season training...?

I would argue that McCormack is more skilled with the ball at his feet, a more creative player, but that Clarkson is a better all round player. Clarkson can score (and has scored) goals as good as McCormack has scored (examples volley vs ICT in 07/08, chip in the 5-3 game vs Dundee United) but that McCormack would not score some of the goals that Clarkson has (mainly those with his head). And deciding which player you would have, for me you have to take into account work rate and attitude (Sasa Curcic was very skillful), and DC's is always 100% spot on...

I'll hold my hands up and say I was a strong advocate of a second poll. Just cos the first one had John Hughes and Scott Leitch in it and no Gary McAllister. Don't think we needed a new one for every guy who declares an interest but that's just me. Having said that, it's the close season, we've not got a manager so signing talk is unlikely, what else are we to do...?