Holden, Yates and ‘dark horse’ Ashworth stake claim for manager’s post

MAN IN POSSESSION: Dean Holden is hoping to hold on to the main job at Athletic.

ATHLETIC’S board of directors have held a second round of interviews in the search for the club’s next permanent manager.

The Chronicle understands current boss Dean Holden, ex-Cheltenham manager Mark Yates and foreign-based coach Paul Ashworth were all interviewed at length by a panel yesterday. Chairman Simon Corney and directors Ian Hill, Barry Owen, Anthony Gee and Anna Kocerhan posed the questions.

Holden has the job until the end of the season, but if an outside appointment is made it may be thought beneficial for the new candidate to get experience of the current squad and set-up before the end of the current season.

Athletic have three games left, Saturday’s home clash with Chesterfield followed a week later by a trip to Walsall. Peterborough’s come to SportsDirect.com Park on May 3 to rounds off a season in which the club hopes to finish in the top half of the league.

Yates (45) appears to have put forward a strong case to take the job at initial talks. The former Birmingham City, Kidderminster and Cheltenham midfielder was recommended by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

He has significant experience working successfully with a small budget at Cheltenham in League Two. in his five years there he took them to consecutive play-off finals in 2012 and 2013 but then lost his job as the team struggled last November.

Ashworth (45), is the least widely-known of the candidates. The Norfolk-born brother of FA technical director Dan Ashworth, he has spent most of his professional coaching career abroad managing Ventspils, FK Riga and Skonto Riga in Latvia. He also spent time as sporting director of Russian club FC Rostov a decade ago.

Dean Holden’s 12-game stint in charge after taking over from Lee Johnson has impressed the club hierarchy. He got the results needed to stave off relegation despite extensive player injuries

Though he is the least experienced of the trio, he has a deep knowledge of the player base at Athletic

twitter: @Matt_Chambers_