In this article, we take a look at who are the current top six favourites to become the next Mansfield manager following Tuesday’s sacking.
It was yet another dismal defeat for the Stags, who are yet to pick up a win, drawing five and losing four, which places them 22nd in the League Two table and just one point above the drop zone.
They also finished 21st last season with the final standings based on points-per-game due to the coronavirus pandemic preventing the campaign from continuing.
Graham Coughlan oversaw his side lose 4-2 last night, giving newcomers Barrow their first win of the 2020/21 season. That was the final straw for those at the top of the club and felt it is now the right time to change manager.
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The club statement issued after the game read: Mansfield Town Football Club can confirm that it has parted company with manager Graham Coughlan.
In a joint statement, chairman John Radford and co-chairwoman Carolyn Radford said: “Unfortunately, despite an overhaul in the playing squad during the close season, and with significant backing, we have not acquired the results needed at this stage of the season.
“We have parted company amicably and thank Graham for his endeavours and wish him every success in the future.
“Fresh leadership is now required to turn around our season.
“The process for a new manager is now underway. We will be guided by our chief executive, David Sharpe, and will take the necessary time to ensure that we appoint the right manager for Mansfield Town Football Club.”
Mansfield Town have had plenty of managers in recent years, all failing to get the Nottinghamshire based club out of the fourth tier of English football and into the third.
2020/21 RESULTS:
EFL Cup – 29 Aug 2020 – Preston 4 – 0 Mansfield
EFL Trophy – 8 Sep 2020 – Mansfield 0 – 3 Man City U21
League Two – 12 Sep 2020 – Mansfield 0 – 0 Tranmere
League Two – 19 Sep 2020 – Leyton Orient 2 – 2 Mansfield
League Two – 26 Sep 2020 – Mansfield 1 – 2 Exeter
League Two – 3 Oct 2020 – Newport Co 2 – 1 Mansfield
EFL Trophy – 6 Oct 2020 – Mansfield 1 – 3 Lincoln
League Two – 10 Oct 2020 – Mansfield 0 – 0 Stevenage
League Two – 17 Oct 2020 – Mansfield 1 – 3 Bradford
League Two – 20 Oct 2020 – Morecambe 1 – 1 Mansfield
League Two – 24 Oct 2020 – Cheltenham 0 – 0 Mansfield
League Two – 27 Oct 2020 – Mansfield 2 – 4 Barrow
MANAGERS SINCE PROMOTION IN 2013/14
Graham Coughlan: 17 Dec, 2019 until 27 Oct 2020
John Dempster: 14 May, 2019 until 15 Dec, 2019
David Flitcroft: 1 Mar, 2018 until 14 May, 2019
Steve Evans: 16 Nov, 2016 until 1 Mar, 2018
Adam Murray: 5 Dec, 2014 until 16 Nov, 2016
Paul Cox: 31 May, 2011 until 5 Dec, 2014
Fans reacted after news came out of Graham Coughlan’s departure…
Worst win percentage in the club’s history with no sign of it improving.
— Matthew Ellis (@MJE_1982) October 27, 2020
21pts from 81available had longer than he deserved
— Steve Adams (@ste9464) October 27, 2020
Couldn’t you of just hung out for one more game against Walsall on Saturday. Before getting rid of him ?
— Glenn Clarke ??⚪ (@ClarkeGlenn) October 27, 2020
Announce her pic.twitter.com/JaLagFezEV
— Will ?? (@WillB_2003) October 27, 2020
He was charismatic and we played the best football I’ve seen in years. I’d love to see him have another shot @CarolynRadford @JRadfordMTFC @DavidSharpe91
— Kenno? (@SuperTom21) October 27, 2020
You’re joking right ?
— Ivo Radzivilovics (@Radzivilovics) October 27, 2020
Exactly the same as what happened at Notts. You could be in real trouble this season
— Graham (@Grahamwelsh16) October 27, 2020
Out of your league guys , your ship has too many holes in it to stay afloat.
— Steve n Nature (@SpacesSteve) October 28, 2020
When you haven’t won all season and made the worse start in 100 years deserves to be sacked. We now have to get the right manager with proven experience and the knowledge to win! Give him time and get behind him. The place needs a massive lift!!
— KD (@kdove1995) October 27, 2020
So, who is the favourites to become the new Mansfield Town manager following the sacking?
David Flitcroft
David Flitcroft previously managed Mansfield Town, appointed back in March 2018, and lead them to just three points outside the League Two playoffs in 8th.
By the end of December 2018, Mansfield were defeated just once under Flitcroft in the 2018/19 season. They were also the only side in the top four English divisions unbeaten away from home, until they were beaten by Carlisle.
His contract was terminated on 14 May 2019 after failing to achieve promotion to League One, having lost to Newport County in the play-off semi-final.
There have been a few calls from fans to bring him back. Is he the man to save their season despit eit being early days?
Odds on becoming Mansfield manager – 4/1 (according to Sky Bet)
BREAKING: Mansfield have sacked manager David Flitcroft and replaced him with academy manager John Dempster.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 14, 2019
Simon Grayson
Grayson was last in charge Blackpool, however a worrying for saw them pick up just one win in 12 games in all competitions.
A 3-2 defeat at home to Gillingham left them 15th in the League One table, despite being 4th in mid-December 2019.
Prior to that, he was with Bradford City (in League One at the time), though got the boot in May 2018, managing just 14 matches for them – winning 3, drawing 5 and losing 6.
He’s also managed Sunderland, Preston, Huddersfield, Leeds and Blackpool.
His managerial honours has seen him win the 2015 League One final with Preston, win the 2012 League One playoff final with Huddersfield, promotion from the third tier of English football with Leeds in 2010 and another League One playoff final win with Blackpool in 2007.
Odds on becoming Mansfield manager – 5/1 (according to Sky Bet)
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GRAHAM ALEXANDER
Alexander was most recently manager of Salford City, but harshly got sacked despite an unbeaten run with them at the time of his exit.
He had got them promoted from the National League, and then guided them to an 11th place finish in their debut season in the fourth tier of English football (based on PPG).
MANAGERIAL STATS:
Preston North End (caretaker) – 14 Dec 2011 until 16 Jan 2012 – 5 G, 2 W, 2 D, 1 L – 40.0 win %
Fleetwood Town – 6 Dec 2012 until 30 Sep 2015 – 145 G, 56 W, 35 D, 54 L – 38.6 win %
Scunthorpe United – 22 Mar 2016 until 24 Mar 2018 – 113 G, 53 W, 30 D, 30 L – 46.9 win %
Salford City – 14 May 2018 until 12 Oct 2020 – 112 G, 54 W, 27 D, 31 L – 48.2 win %
Total – 372 G, 160 W, 97 D, 115 L – 43.0 win %
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OTHER NAMES MENTIONED:
Sol Campbell – 8/1
Nigel Clough – 9/1
Keith Hill – 10/1
Paul Hurst – 10/1
Steve Evans – 10/1
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – 12/1
Kevin Nolan – 12/1
Now that you have seen who are favourites to become the next Mansfield manager following Tuesday’s sacking, who do you want to see in charge?
Let us know in the comments below!
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