Speculation Mounts

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 07/11/2006

SPECULATION about who the next Grimsby manager will be has been further fuelled by Town Chairman John Fenty's remark to Radio Humberside that there had been several applications but "one candidate stood head and shoulders above the rest".

Mr Fenty's remarks would seem to indicate that "the outstanding candidate" is one very well known to the Chairman, perhaps somebody he was trying to get for the post, or someone that he would have liked to have applied when it was last vacant only six months ago. That would be likely to be someone very closely associated with the Mariners in the past such as Alan Buckley, Paul Wilkinson or possibly Glenn Cockerill.

In the light of his comments and the unavailability of some of the initial candidates, I have reviewed my book for the next Grimsby manager. Those candidates who fit in with Mr Fenty's comments or for whom there has been a groundswell of opinion on the message boards (which are bound to have some influence on the decision) have had their odds shortened; likewise a few have lengthened if they are not generally favoured or do not fit in with the Chairman's comments.

The single largest beneficiary in the betting market is former Town boss Alan Buckley who has never applied for the position when it has become available in the past, but who could perhaps be enticed by one last spell at the club where he made his name in management. Buckley, however, who has been out of the game for several years and surely well past his prime, would be a hugely controversial appointment, just as his sacking six years ago (a monumental folly in my view) continues to divide Town's supporters.

Here are the latest odds:

Paul Wilkinson 3-1
Stuart Watkiss 3-1  7-2
Alan Buckley 10-1  5-1
John McDermott 4-1  5-1
Tony Ford 5-1  6-1
Glenn Cockerill 8-1
Brian Horton 16-1
Dave Hodgson 20-1
Nigel Clough 25-1  20-1
Andy King 33-1
Mark McGhee 50-1
Stan Ternant 66-1
Brian Little 75-1
Peter Beagrie 250-1  100-1
The Mighty Mariner 500-1
Sven Goran Erickson 1000-1
John Prescott 5000-1

Personally I would like to see Paul Wilkinson back at the club in some capacity, and I think the fact that we couldn't entice him here as Rodger's assistant means that the only way to get Wilkie to come back is probably as manager. The Cardiff Reserve Team Coach is not perfect, however, and I can see it would be a risk getting someone with no managerial experience at this stage in the season. I would like to know who else had applied before making my own decision in his favour, but at this stage I would tentatively say Wilkie was my first choice.

Who should be next Grimsby manager. Answers on the message board at : Message Board

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