After Simon Grayson was sacked earlier this month, we’ve taken a look at who are top six favourites to become the next Blackpool manager.
His departure came after seven months in charge following a run of only one win in 12 games in all competitions. David Dunn is the caretaker but doesn’t want the job. Take a look at who are the top six favourites below…
6th) Lee Carsley
Carsley is currently specialist national coach for England U21.
Clubs he previously managed were Brentford, but has been either assistant or caretaker at Coventry City, Sheffield United, Manchester City Academy, and Birmingham City.
He’s also played for Derby, Blackburn, Coventry, Everton and Birmingham as well as make 40 appearances for Ireland.
Current odds on Sky Bet: 16/1
5th) Ian Evatt
37 year old Evatt is a former Blackpool and Chesterfield defender who took over at Holker Street back in June 2018 and guided them to 10th place in the National League last season. They now sit top of the league and eye promotion to League Two.
He was also caretaker manager at Chesterfield for the final three games of their time in the EFL.
Current odds on Sky Bet: 16/1
4th) Karl Robinson
There are suggestions former MK Dons manager Karl Robinson is keen to relocate to the North West, however the Liverpool-born Oxford chief, speaking after his side’s 1-0 win at Ipswich on Saturday, said rumours linking him with the vacancy come as news to him.
“I don’t know anything about that,” he told the Oxford Mail.
“We have to be ambitious, that’s the way it is.
“I’ve done many games. Whatever happens in my career it doesn’t really matter to me, I only care where my players go.
“If something happens and things don’t fit right at a certain place I know there will be other things I can go and do.
“Right now we’re in a really good place and these players have given me everything. I’m so proud.
“The fans who have seen me here celebrating, that’s a man who loves what he’s doing.”
The U’s currently sit 9th in League One, just three points away from the playoffs. They finished 12th under Robinson in the 2018/19 season after fighting a relegation battle most of the season.
He came in the 22nd of March 2018, after Pep Clotet was sacked and had Derek Fazackerley as caretaker, and ended up guiding them to 16th in League One.
He has also managed Charlton Athletic and MK Dons, where he won promotion from League One as runners-up in 2014/15.
Current odds on Sky Bet: 4/1
3rd) Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones has been out of a job since he was axed by Stoke City in November 2019 after winning just two of the first 14 matches of the 2019–20 season.
Jones was appointed manager of the Championship club in January 2019 after the club agreed a compensation package with Luton. Jones won three matches of the remaining 21 in 2018–19 as Stoke ended in 16th position. He bought 10 players that summer, made a bad start to the 2019/20, gaining a point from the first six matches, and eventually got the boot.
Previous tot hat he was in charge with Luton Town, leading them to second place in League One by January 2019 with the highest number of goals scored, before being approached by Stoke. He left Luton with the highest Football League points per game ratio of any manager in their history.
He also guide the Hatters to promotion from League Two, the semi final of the EFL Trophy, and whilst in his first season with Luton, guided them away from the danger of relegation to the National League to an 11th-place finish.
Current odds on Sky Bet: 5/2
2nd) Brian Barry-Murphy
Brian Barry-Murphy, 40, is the current manager of Rochdale, who sit 19th in the League One table.
It is his first ever managerial job after being a first team coach at Spotland and a caretaker manager in March 2019 following the sacking of Keith Hill.
As well as Rochdale, he has played for Bury, Sheffield Wednesday, Hartlepool United, Southend United, Preston North End and Cork City.
Current odds on Sky Bet: 5/2
1st) 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, but 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: 2/1
What do you make of the top six favourites to become the next Blackpool manager. Who do you want as the new manager?
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