Cheltenham Town have took to issue a statement with two EFL clubs wanting to appoint manager according to fresh reports this week.
Michael Duff was due to speak with Barnsley officials on Monday about the vacant head coaching role at the club.
And it was confirmed in a statement on Monday evening that another Championship club in Blackpool have also approached the club to tempt him away.
An update regarding Michael Duff and the recent reports in the media https://t.co/kKHWk0XgEY #ctfc
— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) June 6, 2022
CHELTENHAM STATEMENT:
The Board is conscious of the speculation surrounding the future of Michael Duff and would like to update Cheltenham Town supporters about the current situation.
Michael’s contract at Cheltenham Town has a further year to run and we are extremely keen to keep him as our manager. To that end, the directors have put forward an offer to extend this contract and discussions remain ongoing.
It is common knowledge that Barnsley have requested permission to speak to Michael as part of their new manager recruitment process and we have now received an approach from a Championship club as well. Michael has been given permission to speak to both clubs but we remain hopeful that he will stay to continue his work at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium.
The interest in Michael and his coaching staff is testament to the club’s remarkable success over the past three seasons.
Both the Club and Michael are keeping in regular contact with a view to settling his future position as early as possible. We have made him aware, in the clearest way possible, of our wish for him to stay and are hopeful that will be his ultimate decision.
In the meantime, preparations for the 2022/23 season are continuing as planned and the Board will be readying themselves for a number of different eventualities in order to try and give the team the best chance to start the new campaign as strongly as possible.
On the search for a new head coach, Blackpool chief executive Ben Mansford: “We understand that there are a range of emotions that everyone is going through.
“This is a really important decision for us.
“It is so important that we get the decision right so we need to make sure, even though pre-season starts on June 20 and the season is eight weeks away, we are respectful to supporters who want to see us move with the dynamic.
“I hope they know that most of the decisions we have made in the last three years have tried to be the best ones. We have criteria that we think are important with different personalities and profiles.
“We are under some time pressures but we have a set of criteria that we are looking for in the next candidate. This is a good job for someone, the club has come on so far and I hope the next person that comes in is here because they want to be here.”
Barnsley hope to be in a position to name a new head coach by the 13th of June.
Tykes CEO Khaled El-Ahmad confirmed last week that the club remains in talks with both Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink and Michael Duff.
He told a press conference last Tuesday afternoon: “There’s three buckets (of candidates); one is very experienced, one is the up and coming that maybe doesn’t have a lot of managerial experience and the other is what I call a solid option that has some seasons behind them.
“We have interviewed and spoken to all variations, which hopefully will lead us to the one we think is the best fit.”
El-Ahmad added: “We also want a manager that wants to come to Barnsley. During the process someone might be excited and enticed about the job but then you find out that they don’t really want to be here.”
The club do want to continue with a head coach model, El-Ahmad said.
“What we want to build is stability on the field as well. So when a manager or coach comes in, when they leave, it doesn’t disrupt everything.
“The structure of Barnsley, call it ‘The Barnsley Way’, has to provide stability.”
Michael Duff is now the 6/4 favourite for the Blackpool job. The Cheltenham boss is also priced at 3/1 for Barnsley.
Fans reacted as Cheltenham issue a statement with two EFL clubs wanting to appoint manager Michael Duff…
@bretonday5: Fair play. Rate that. UP YOU ROBINS🔴⚪️
@neilmeynell: Barnsley fan here. We must have approached this guy a fortnight ago and only got round to talking to him today? Do yourself a favour mate and either stay where you are or go to blackpool, we’re just clowns….
@john_greenall8: Nice to know what’s going on but at the end off the day money always talks
@corner_martyn: That’s him gone then…
@DanP5010: Can do much better that Barnsley
@mattyadders: It’s good hear and about all they can say really. Just frustrating as I guess transfer targets could slip from our grasp whilst this continues.
@tylerctfc: very good from the club hope he signs the new deal
@mitchellnoster: 🙏🙏🙏 I hope it’s a good offer.
@jamiev543: Off he pops, shit news. What a job he has done though 🤝🔴⚪️
Will always be a Cheltenham legend. Just hope he stays so I can delete this tweet #ctfc
@SDicko83: Kinda ironic that 6 weeks ago most Barnsley fans had never heard of Michael Duff but now if we don’t get him it’s a disaster and shows incompetency from our ‘New Board’.
@neilmeynell: It’s a no brainier, you go manager in the championship. Fair play to him.
@dharvey4: Blackpool are the better run club and obviously they can offer Championship football.
@GuestyBFC: Whatever we offer him he will take it to Blackpool and ask them to pay a bit more, then they will and they will get him. Same old useless numpties at Oakwell.
@BenBlackwell91: Give Michael the job asap or to Warnock… not convinced of JFH unless he came out of retirement and laced his boots back on
@Jamie270: Quality if he chooses Barnsley haha
@RFlavell: Give him what he wants
@joshyt6: We better be on the phone to other managers this week
@JimCartmell7: he’s gonna end up at Barnsley isn’t he
@Robins_Report: Fingers crossed we will have an outcome by the end of the week either way! Although, If he turns down Barnsley, interviews at Blackpool then this could burn into another week as I’m sure they won’t make an appointment that quick after an interview if he’s not the only one. #ctfc
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