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Back to the future?
Date published: 04 February 2013
IAIN Dowie is the number one choice for Athletic’s next manager.
The Chronicle understands contact has already been made between chairman Simon Corney and Dowie with regard to replacing Paul Dickov, who resigned yesterday.
Dowie (48) left Boundary Park in acrimonious fashion a decade ago, at one stage threatening legal action against the club’s previous regime.
Dowie is known to be interested, though a sticking point could be the salary he would command.
Bookmakers currently the ex-Crystal Palace, Charlton, Coventry and QPR boss as second-favourite for the Athletic job behind Phil Brown.
Brown, who at one stage this season appeared well-set to take over at Hartlepool, is another character of the type that would appeal to Corney and the Athletic board.
He guided Hull away from relegation danger and into the top flight in successive seasons, though his last stint as a boss at Preston ended with his sacking just over 12 months ago.
Other leading candidates according to the bookies are Gary Megson, another former Athletic manager John Sheridan, currently at Plymouth, and ex-Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt.
Speaking to the Chronicle, Corney said there was a surge of interest from prospective managers and their agents as soon as the news came out of Dickov's departure.
“It has been incredible,” said Corney, who was at Dickov’s final game as Athletic slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Walsall.
“All sorts of managers and agents have been calling up and my phone has been ringing constantly.”
An appointment is unlikely be made before tomorrow night’s home game against Yeovil.
Comments
The Sheridan sentence is not serious is it?
If loyalty and integrity are key values that SC is looking for then don't employ Dowie. He couldn't wait to jump ship when things went wrong - a stunt he pulled again later. I liked his approach while he was here before but with money and qudos being his main drivers I would prefer a different candidate. There are not many in the bookies list I would go for tho'!
However, It's OAFC I support - managers and players come and go....let's hope we get sorted soon.
IT'S GOT TO BE DOWIE !!!!
Be careful what you wish for Scott....!!!
Exactly how long does it take for one to "jump ship when things went wrong?" Seeing as Dowie left in December after Colchester away, he hardly jumped ship! Infact paying for pre-season to NI is hardly jumping ship! He actually steadied the ship on-field. Also, anyone who would work for a company going bust (as we were) & not apply for work elsewhere is an utter fool in my book! I'd have Dowie back in a heartbeat...the same anorexic budget still exists however! Only 1 man can rectify that issue!
DOWIE all day long.... how about philliskirk as assistant for this season then bring in scholes as player assistant coach. dream team. or dream on??????????????
I don't care what dowie asks for in wages i would give it to him. club needs a complete clear out. with a decent manager in charge i would get my season ticket again...
And who do you want as the next manager LSA ??? ive come to the conclusion you want nobody ?
Not the right man Dowie
dowie didnt jump ship.
he left after recieving no pay for many weeks
how many of ud would do that
Dowie thought he was the 'real deal' and had money to spend so doubt that will happen.
Brown is a tricky one to argue against other than his Bolton association will not endear him to a lot of the supporters. You can't mix oil and water!
Sheridan definitely not we might have been going to the dogs under Dickov but would SC be so stupid?
SC could really empty the ground if he brought DPenny back (wash my mouth out).
I would like Philiskirk if he would give it a chance.
So pure elvis, if you and all the other stay away fans actually kept the faith with the other 3000 die hards then maybe we would have a bigger budget that would allow us to bring in better players and even better managers, it's people like you why we're in this state.
I wasn't asking for PD's head though Terry Tibbs.... because, unlike others... I could forsee the present position, where there appears little better... I don't believe in going back... so no to Shez and Dowie for me. I guess from the available list, it'd have to be one of Brown, Jewell, Megson or Billy Davies... as they've had the most experience at better levels. However, non inspire me and it would be entirely conceivable that none of them would want the job!
Three names readily spring to mind. Simon Grayson ,Phil Brown and Gary Megson. All have a proven record at this level and above. Why no Iain Dowie? I can't think of one club where a returning manager has had success a second time around. I discount Ronnie Moore as I don't consider him a manager!
Somebody tell me why Brian Horton was sat in the stand with a Latics hat on at Walsall on Saturday, seen the picture........Phil Brown's Number 2????.....I sincerely hope not.....My Choice would be Either Dowie or Adkins....But then again....is that wishful thinking?
its a tough one dont fancy any of them... i wonder what palmer does for a living. him and stitch and tricky ricky with his magic sponge. seriously though there are not many available that inspire me.defo not megson and brown.
simon grayson has managed well untill the last 6 weeks or so of towns season.paul ince maybe.. i do know simon has to get it right this time
The place needs a clean sweep which demands a new broom. Ian Dowie..Im not sure ? Scholes/Giggs we can dream ? Paul Jewel, Phil Brown, Simon Grayson getting mentioned along with Steve Keane ? dificult shout. Back to players letting PD down I beg to differ suggesting PD/SC made some bad signings. Terriers kick them out and so many land at Oldham which includes Croft ? Professional players should want to be at the fitness level required and want to give their best when wearing their team shirt..
Whoever comes as manage will probably have a get out clause should we be relegated or a bigger club comes in for him, therefore I would hope that Dowie gets the job. He'll organise and put the fear of God into the players. Whether he is affordable is another matter - failing that Phil Brown.
phil brown for me fear factor deffo needed, not all mates together as before.thats the reason pd failed
If Dowie does come he will soon weed out the deadwood who have the cheek to call themselves professional fooball players. and show them where to sign on 'cos thats where most belong
I would like to see Simon Grayson out of every one mentioned. His C.V at this level is better than any ones for getting teams out of this Division. Definatley not Brian Horton. Dowie sorry but no. Phil Brown are you joking!! We don't need Rookie managers we need good motivators.
It amazes me why S.C. does not come out and blow his top at some of the nonsense that is continually stated about him and his club.
it must be very hard to hear fans who really know nothing about business & even less about football, making comments they simply cannot justify, so tell lies.
The club is run under strict restraint by the F.A.& F.L. with wages based on income, we have little, he's left to do what's best or shut down !
Dickov was a decent man and ambassador for the club. For me, his downfall was his failure to adapt or innovate tactically during a game and with no general improvement over 3 seasons. I think he had more than a fair chance in what is after all a results led business. The poisoned challis will be passed on to someone who may or may not be up to the job. Some of the names mention won’t fancy the dog fight or be affordable, not to mention the length of contract required. Back to square 1, again.
Phil Brown was a joke at preston and hull.
Paolo Di Canio for me,but he was probably on so much more at swindon,enough to bankrupt them. Dowie maybe,but cant see it working like last time.
Or Neil Redfearn if its going to be somebody coming into management.
hey chaddyender, before you start to criticise other supporters it may be worth knowing their financial circumstances. I live in Formby which is a 100 mile round trip. if you havent realised already there is a recession happening. To travel once or twice a week as well as a season ticket costs alot. My family comes first and I wont jeopardise our future because of a hobby. I had a season ticket for 20 years and still go to 1 game a month. I think I have a right to an opinion.
Since Big Joe only 2 managers have left the club with a better team/squad than they inherited, Ritchie and Moore. The rest have left a mess (especially Sheridan). Dowie inherited a good squad and had financial backing but did little with it. Wherever Dowie has gone he has performed poorly in the transfer market and failed to build a decent team. He is undoubtedly a good gee-up merchant, but thats where it ends. Lets move forwards not backwards, new face and new ideas.
If PD had to go, and I think for us to stay up he did, should havehappened with time for the new manager to make the required changes. Anyone coming in now will be hamstrung by Dikovs poor choices in the January's Window. Time for Corney to explain his thought process; why drag out the PD sacking beyond the earlier culling of the management team? Who is running the club??
Major reasons why Dowie should get the job 1.He unlike any manager after big Joe got us in the playoffs 2.his team was fit and organised and we actually gained points and wins in the last 10 mins of a game the opposite with PD.3.He knows the club and can hit the ground running & time is short.4.The football was more entertaining.5.The crowds were bigger.6.He lives locally.7.He has good contacts 8.He has a good profile and will attract players.8John Harbin needs to come as fitness coach aswell!
Simon Corney: PLEASE call Scholesy!! He doesn't have the managerial experience, but he would be HUGE shot in the arm....something that is desperately needed at Boundary Park after too many years of tough times. Even if the Latics dropped he would bring fans in to make a serious push back into L1 for next season. (Geez, I might even be tempted to move back to the UK for my retirement years if this happened! Or am I just dreaming??)
Scott, I often look for your posts as I consider your opinion worth reading... however, I'm somewhat disappointed with your lasty effort. 1. Sheridan got us into the playoffs too. 2. You're clearly fond of the Dowie/Harbin axis... as much as Royle/Donachie was my favourite.... however the past is the past... we should let it go.... otherwise we'll have Frizzell, Rowley or Hardwick fans screaming for their return too!!!
Redfearn, Butt, Scholes... amongst a list of others... forget them... they're unproven rookies. We've just got rid of a rookie who had 2 1/2 years of experience... we'd be starting again. I'm afraid we need an experienced man for our current predicament...!!!
@scott: Don't forget that Dowie was bankrolled by Moore, and we really should have gone up automatically, but faded towards the end of the season. Would Dowie come back with no money, no room for manoeuvre and no John Harbin?
Whoever we bring in has an almighty task to keep us up this season. We don't know if Corney has that in mind when chossing the next fall guy.
sky bets favouriate is scholesy! please say this is true! Corney take a chance on him and you will see boundary park fill up again! not only that he's a still a fantasic player and he can really shake things up. I have no doubt he would have us playing like we should be playing and would be good for the club.
I can't see Scholes becoming a manager of us, or anyone else for that matter. He just doesn't seem the type that wants to face the press day in and day out.
They way I see it is the club, bearing in mind the current situation of no money declining crowds and dilapidated ground. Is that we can either decide to go down the youth route developing our own players from youth team right through (similar to Crewe)Or caryy on as we are paying buck to big time charlies who just don't cut it. I would be happy to see the team in a lower league if it meant that the club had a purpose and fans could see their was a plan and not just blind panic and free signings
realism if we go into div2 kiss goodbye to the club because it will free fall.Lookers fair enough I forgot sheridan got us in the playoffs so you are right to point it out.Mark H I take your point about the moore bankrolling but that wasnt dowies fault but remember the fitness, the crowd numbers and the quality of football plus when he pulled the money Dowie still did a good job. Scholes as a manager would be a mistake too quiet and nice but player coach please that would be great.
when sheridan left we had eardley, taylor, o'grady, craig davies and richie wellens who are all playing at a higher level now, as well as lee hughes who has banged them in at this level since. How did he leave us with a poorer team than he arrived with?
Have Your Say
Please be true about Dowie I take MARK H point about John Harbin having a massive influence as a fitness coach so lets hope he can come back from Australia. One thing for sure the teams fitness needs to be addressed.
By scott @ 04/02/2013 13:14:24