We take a look at the updated top six favourites to become the new Swindon Town manager following the exit of Richie Wellens.
The promotion-winning manager departed the League One newcomers in favour of a move to League Two side Salford City, who harshly sacked Graham Alexander.
Swindon said via their club website: “We would like to thank Richie for his efforts while in charge of the club, especially after our promotion-winning season last year and wish him every success in his new role and for the future.
“Noel Hunt will take charge of the side for the foreseeable future until a new manager is appointed at the club.”
So, who are top six favourites to become new Swindon manager according to bookmakers Sky Bet? Find out for yourself below…
6) Graham Alexander
Salford City sacked Alexender before appointing Swindon’s manager. He guided them to promotion from the National League, an 11th place finish in the fourth tier of English football (based on PPG), then had an unbeaten start to the 2020/21 League Two season, before being axed.
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 %
Current odds: 12/1
5) Paul Heckingbottom
Paul Heckingbottom has been out of work since he was sacked by Scottish side Hibernian in November 2019 after he won one of their first 11 league matches in the 2019/20 season.
He was appointed in February 2019 and went on an unbeaten run, won the Premiership manager of the month award for March and then finished in fifth position. Still, Heckingbottom wasn’t happy that the team “downed tools” in the last few matches of the season.
Previous to that, he was manager of Leeds United and Barnsley.
His record:
Barnsley (caretaker) – 12 February 2015 until 25 February 2015 – 3 games, 2 won, 0 drew, 1 lost, 66.67win %
Barnsley (caretaker) – 6 February 2016 until 15 June 2016 – 22 games, 14 won, 5 drew, 3 lost, 63.64win %
Barnsley – 15 June 2016 until 6 February 2018 – 83 games, 23 won, 23 drew, 37 lost, 27.71win %
Leeds United – 6 February 2018 until 1 June 2018 – 16 games, 4 won, 4 drew, 8 lost, 25.00win %
Hibernian – 13 February 2019 until 4 November 2019 – 32 games, 11 won, 12 drew, 9 lost, 34.38% win
Current odds on Sky Bet: 11/1
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4) Nigel Adkins
Nigel Adkins has been out of a job since June 2019 after he decided against renewing his contract at Hull City, stating that his and the club’s futures were “not aligned.”
In his first full season in charge, Adkins led the club from 19th to a comfortable 13th place finish in the Championship table, winning 17 of their 46 games.
He has also managed Sheffield United, Reading, Southampton, Scunthorpe United, and Bangor City and had time with the latter club, Wigan Athletic and Tranmere Rovers as a player.
HIS MANAGERIAL HONOURS:
Scunthorpe United
League One winners: 2006–07
League One play-offs: 2009
Southampton
League One runner-up: 2010–11
Championship runner-up: 2011–12
Current odds: 10/1
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3) Danny Cowley
Cowley was most recently was sacked by Huddersfield Town, despite beating second-place West Brom in his last game in charge, which all-but-confirmed the club’s survival.
It’s understood that owner Phil Hodgkinson wanted total control over transfers — but his manager was not willing to work that way.
Danny first grabbed the attention of the country when he and his brother took Lincoln City all the way to the FA Cup Quarter Finals in 2017, causing shocks against Ipswich, Brighton and Burnley along the way.
The Imps finished the 2016/17 season crowned champions of the National League and then in the 2017/18 season finished 7th, claiming a playoff place in their first season back in the Football League and also won the EFL Trophy at Wembley.
In the 2018/19 season, Danny and Nicky Cowley’s side finished top of the League Two table and won promotion to League One.
Danny Cowley left League One high flyers Lincoln to join the Championship strugglers in September, who at the time were 23rd in the table having failed to win any of their first six matches.
Current odds according to Sky Bet: 8/1
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2) Paul Tisdale
Paul Tisdale’s last job was with Milton Keynes Dons, but a poor start to the 2019–20 season saw him achieve only one point from a possible 27 – the worst run of results in the club’s short history – leading to Tisdale’s sacking on the 2nd of November 2019 following a 1–3 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers.
He lead MK to automatic promotion back to League One at the first attempt in the 2018/19 season by achieving a third-place finish.
Previous to that, he was manager at Exeter City, but after many failed attempts to take them up in recent seasons, Tisdale left after twelve years at the club. At the time of his departure, Tisdale was the longest-serving manager in English football’s top four divisions.
His other honours include:
Western Football League First Division: 2000–01 (Team Bath)
Western Football League Premier Division: 2002–03 (Team Bath)
Conference Premier play-offs: 2008 (Exeter City)
League Two runners-up: 2008–09 (Exeter City)
Current odds on Sky Bet: 6/1
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1) Noel Hunt
Swindon Town assistant manager Noel Hunt confirmed that he would be open to the idea of replacing Richie Wellens at the County Ground.
“I haven’t had much time to process it, to be honest, but (taking over) is something I’ve got to have a serious think about.
“I’ll have to go and speak to the chairman and Steve Anderson (CEO) to figure out a plan going forward.
“One thing the club needs is direction, and I feel we are going the right way still.
“I regard myself in charge until told otherwise, but we’ve got a game to look forward to on Saturday.
“So it’s about picking the boys up, we’ve got a recovery day on Wednesday, and we’ll prepare for Saturday like it’s the most important game.”
Hunt had nothing bad to say about Wellens in the post-match interview, instead sending his best wishes as his friend looks to be heading to a team the Irishman called the playboys of League Two.
Asked if the coaching staff was sad on Wellens departing to Salford, Hunt said: “It does hurt us, but he will have his own reasons for going.
“I know him as a man and as a friend, and he’s been very, very good to me, so whatever happens, happens.
“On the other side of it, if you look at where he’s going, they’re the playboys of League Two.”
The 37-year-old has previously played for Shamrock, Dunfermline, Dundee United, Reading, Leeds, Ipswich, Southend, Portsmouth, Wigan and the Republic of Ireland.
Current odds on Sky Bet: 6/4
Noel Hunt takes charge as Swindon caretaker managerhttps://t.co/cXKfp3ZOxU
— The42.ie (@The42_ie) November 4, 2020
Who else has Sky Bet listed?
Ian Culverhouse – 12/1
Steve Cotterill – 12/1
Paul Hurst – 14/1
Sol Campbell – 14/1
Graham Coughlan – 16/1
John McGreal – 16/1
Michael Duff – 16/1
Michael Flynn – 16/1
Paolo Di Canio – 16/1
Paul Cook – 16/1
Simon Grayson – 18/1
Andy Parkinson – 20/1
Clint Hill – 20/1
Ian Dawes – 20/1
Robbie Fowler – 25/1
Now you have seen the top six favourites to become new Swindon manager, who do you think should be appointed? Let us know by commenting below or over on our Facebook page HERE!
See Also: Swindon left managerless as Salford make appointment
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