Two new managers emerge as contenders for Bournemouth job

Two new managers emerge as contenders for the AFC Bournemouth job as the search goes on and with there being a shift in odds with Sky Bet.

Recently sacked David Wagner is ‘among those keen to take over’ at the Cherries after manager Jason Tindall was got rid of last week.

The newly-relegated club currently sit sixth in the Championship table but came into the season with aspirations of automatic promotion and had got themselves into a worrying run of form under Tindall.

Caretaker manager Jonathan Woodgate brought that to an end by leading the side to a 3-2 victory over Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.

The Athletic have claimed that Woodgate is unlikely to be given the job on a more permanent basis and that Wagner is among a huge number of managers to be expressing an interest.

They note that current bookies’ favourite John Terry has previously been interviewed for the job but missed out to Tindall last time out, while his former teammate Frank Lampard – listed as second-favourite – is ‘not looking to take on a new challenge just yet’ after leaving Stamford Bridge just last month.

Tony Pulis is the next name on the bookmakers’ list after being sacked by Sheffield Wednesday in December, with Woodgate just behind him.

Wagner is then ahead of Danny Cowley, Paul Cook, Slaven Bilic and, as some would have expected, Tindall’s own predecessor, Eddie Howe.

David Wagner guided the Terriers to a surprise promotion to the Premier League in 2016/17 and performed a second miracle by keeping them in the top flight for a second season.

He departed the John Smith’s Stadium halfway through that second Premier League campaign in 2019 with relegation already looking likely and took over at Schalke the following summer.

Wagner initially enjoyed a good start with the Bundesliga side, but was dismissed in September 2020 after taking them to 18 straight games without a win. Ouch.

As mentioned, there are two new managers who emerge as contenders for the Bournemouth job. The second new name is Nigel Pearson.

Nigel Pearson was sacked back in July 2020 after a defeat away at West Ham United, yet looked to be guiding them to safety towards the end of the season.

Instead, he was axed with the club in 17th, assistants Hayden Mullins and Graham Stack took over on a caretaker basis for the final two games of the season, which then saw them drop into the relegation zone, then finish in 19th position on the final day.

Pearson has previous experience of helping a side escape deep trouble, having led Leicester to safety in 2015 when they were to the foot of the table at Christmas.

Pearson won the Championship and League One during his time with the Foxes between 2011 and 2015.

His most recent job was with Belgian First Division B side Oud-Heverlee Leuven but lasted 17 months, left them bottom of the table with just 22 points from 24 games and there were many fan protests to get him out of the club.

A few years back, he was linked to become the new manager of Queens Park Rangers, Bolton and Sunderland, but he failed to get the job.

It was confirmed on Monday afternoon that former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who managed Bournemouth between 1983 and 1992, is returning on a temporary basis to help out caretaker boss Jonathan Woodgate.

“Jonathan Woodgate played under me at Spurs and he’s a great lad,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News. “He’s asked me to come in for a few days and watch them train.

“Just to be around the place for a few days, help keep my eye on things for him.”

“I have spoken to Harry quite a bit,” Woodgate said at a press conference on Monday. “He gives that advice and has been there and done it. He is a really good guy, who I know I can trust.”

Fans gave their reaction to both contenders for the Bournemouth managers job whilst Redknapp comes in temporarily at the Vitality Stadium…

ON WAGNER:

@tickleterrier: Please god! No!

@clarkey_1: David Wagner. Wouldn’t be a bad shout #afcb

@DAGreenslade: The answer is 100% yes for David Wagner, so long as he brings his Huddersfield management abilities and not Schalke #afcb

@bourne883: He has a 34% win average, 26% draw, 40% lose. Not sure I’d give it to him TBH.

@FatBlerk: I’d rather have Pulis than Wagner, but only a short term deal whilst the next manager is chosen properly #AFCB

@EssexTractorBoy: Wouldn’t mind him at #itfc

ON HARRY REDKNAPP:

@AnalyticsForest: What are they doing over there at #afcb Go and get @dancowley1 fgs

@LukeyWilson94: So if Harry Redknapp is looking after AFC Bournemouth for a bit does that mean Niko Kranjčar and @petercrouch will be signed by the end of the week??

@CheekyBiker: Poor Niko Kranjčar. Just when he thought he had finally settled down, he’s packing his bags again.

@TomMcCluskey_: Triffic

@LlanoMarc: Don’t want Redknapp anywhere near the club #afcb

@tjnnorman: Dear god. As if things weren’t bad enough on the south coast

@vibesincethe90s: NIKO KRANJCAR!!! IT’S YOUR TIME SON!!!!!!!!!!!

@DevanteDrex: Bournemouth going into administration within 12 months.

@pjheadless: Guess they can be thankful the transfer windows closed.