New manager wishlist

[Ricky]

Whoever it is should be getting the £750k Eustace compensation  as a promotion bonus. All they are being asked to do is keep us in the position we are currently in and then the play offs are a bit of a lottery. It should be really attractive to someone.

i know it’s been done to death but we don’t want anyone coming in and trying to change too much (Amorin are you listening). Just motivate the boys and welcome back the injured players. 

[Herbie6590]

Flashscore go big on Boateng

https://www.flashscore.co.uk/news/football-championship-exclusive-ghanaian-coach-boateng-on-shortlist-for-blackburn-job/GIPMEL2C/

[KentExile]

10 hours ago, RoverInverness said:

OK, fair enough, apologies if I misrepresented what you were saying.

Perhaps you’re right and they are expecting us to become self-sufficient. We’re going to need to make £10-£20 million profit on player sales, on average, every year.

Step one towards that goal would be putting your existing players on long term contracts.

Hmmmm!

Step two towards that goal would be appointing some very competent, experienced, knowledgable and imaginative people to run the club.

Hmmmm!

I propose a different scenario - perhaps - as a collective entity - the four of them have absolutely no plan and no clue, whatsoever, about anything, and indeed any random chaos or mess could be just around the corner at anytime. As, indeed, appears to have been the case since day one of their ownership. 

No pattern, no plan, no intricate scheme, no tax avoidance conspiracy nonsense, just total and utter random mess!

No apologies needed 🙂 

RE the bold bit - That would be the case if we had owners that had any ambition,  There is potentially another "lower effort" way

If there are no (or very few) players on realistic Championship wages (and unless things change, by the summer of 2027, there will not be), then the size of the sale/s needed to remain self sufficient becomes much smaller, especially if the majority of the squad is made up by academy graduates on a few hundred or a couple of grand a week. 

Obviously this is Venkys/Waggott etc all, so they may not have factored a further drop in income from attendance/merchandise etc as more fans lose interest

It is also entirely possible that your final paragraph is the case

Edited February 14 by KentExile

[onlyonejackwalker]

2 hours ago, Norbert Rassragr said:

Gerrard is a flop. His Rangers spell is looking like the exception not the rule. O'Neil doesn't seem to have the minerals for a play off fight, or next season's relegation battle should we not miraculously get promoted.

They have ALL flopped at some stage.

That's why it is such a tough and subjective decision. Its also why they are are all unemployed.

Why don't we headhunt 15 places higher as Derby have just done. That would be Fulham and Marco Silva. I think we would all be happy with thar.

 

[KentExile]

20 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

Flashscore go big on Boateng

https://www.flashscore.co.uk/news/football-championship-exclusive-ghanaian-coach-boateng-on-shortlist-for-blackburn-job/GIPMEL2C/

Its going to be him isn't it?  Because he is likely the cheapest option in terms of both his own wage, and also he wont have his own expensive managerial team

Not saying he will be good/bad/meh/whatever, but cost is going to be the primary factor

[Ricky]

Boetang was with us before doing some coaching wasn’t he? Not sure when it was but wondering if he would have worked with any of the players who are now with the first team after coming through the youth.

Personally think it would be a poor choice which is why it will probably end up happening. 

[Devon Rover]

12 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Its going to be him isn't it?  Because he is likely the cheapest option in terms of both his own wage, and also he wont have his own expensive managerial team

Not saying he will be good/bad/meh/whatever, but cost is going to be the primary factor

I honestly can't see the point of an appointment like that, or a foreign-based coach with no Championship experience. May as well just keep the current coaching team covering it. Any addition needs to bring relevant experience that would add to the set up. 

It would smack of VenkyValues, though (a cheap, and maleable, option).

[KentExile]

10 minutes ago, Ricky said:

Boetang was with us before doing some coaching wasn’t he? Not sure when it was but wondering if he would have worked with any of the players who are now with the first team after coming through the youth.

Personally think it would be a poor choice which is why it will probably end up happening. 

Yep, in the academy

2018 apparently, originally as U13s coach, wonder how many of those he coached are still here?  They should be about 19 by now, so maybe Litherland, Atcheson etc

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/september/boateng-joins-academy-coaching-staff/

He was gone within a year to Villa though

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17800970.rovers-youth-coach-leaves-aston-villa/

Edited February 14 by KentExile

[MarkBRFC]

Worrying article by Elliot Jackson this morning with Lowe not ruling himself out.

7 hours ago, Fraserkirky said:

I think this has Steven Gerrard written all over it. Deal to the end of season then both parties review. 

No chance of Gerrard I don't think, Waggot and Suhail wouldn't want the extra spotlight he would bring to the club.

Also for all his failings as a manager, I imagine he would come in take one look at them pair and Rudy and think "fuck that".

[RoverInverness]

33 minutes ago, KentExile said:

No apologies needed 🙂 

RE the bold bit - That would be the case if we had owners that had any ambition,  There is potentially another "lower effort" way

If there are no (or very few) players on realistic Championship wages (and unless things change, by the summer of 2027, there will not be), then the size of the sale/s needed to remain self sufficient becomes much smaller, especially if the majority of the squad is made up by academy graduates on a few hundred or a couple of grand a week. 

Obviously this is Venkys/Waggott etc all, so they may not have factored a further drop in income from attendance/merchandise etc as more fans lose interest

It is also entirely possible that your final paragraph is the case

Absolutely, becoming self-sufficient, without making a significant profit by selling on players who’ve signed decent length contracts, involves us playing in League 1 or 2.

There’s a lot of negativity on this board, at times, for Greg the Egg. However, he at least seemed to understand that player contracts are kind of an important part of running a football club.

We could just about be self-sufficient at the top end of the championship (certainly in the PL), but not with Pashwag running the show. It would require talent, creativity, instinct and long term strategic planning.

[Forever Blue]

It’s Chaddy and RF99 for me. The new Clough and Taylor. Appointed on Valentine’s Day. We’ll massacre everyone. 

[KentExile]

4 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

Worrying article by Elliot Jackson this morning with Lowe not ruling himself out.

No chance of Gerrard I don't think, Waggot and Suhail wouldn't want the extra spotlight he would bring to the club.

Also for all his failings as a manager, I imagine he would come in take one look at them pair and Rudy and think "fuck that".

The new favourite then, cheaper than Boateng

[Atko's Engine]

I don't think we should be looking at just a short term appointment, but getting a longer term successor will be harder of course.

I get the rationale given where we are in the table at this time of the season, and agree we don't want someone coming in & changing things drastically.  But having a short term vision is what's put the club in the disastrous shambles behind the scenes as it is. 

If this shitshow has done anything positive (besides hopefully galvanise the players in adversity), it's shone a light back onto how badly run the club is in the eyes of the outside world, with most comments this last week being along the lines of how crap must it have been for Eustace to do his job here day to day to cause him to jump ship like he has, a move which is pretty much unheard of.

I'd hope (maybe forlornly) that makes one of SW or SP to sit up & take notice, realise that for the benefit of their boss's reputation (and therefore their own comfy existence) they need to up their game in terms of day to day ops, structure, financing etc. order to attract the best candidate for the short, medium & long term & to actually follow through by not treating the next incumbent like shite, marginalising them in terms of recruitment & moving the goalposts.

It's the hope that kills.

So far as candidates are concerned, I'd be happy (or at least content) with either Carsley, Allardyce, Cooper or O'Neill. Gerrard would be a big gamble, as would Challinor & Wicky. Absolutely no to Rob Edwards (flash in the pan), Wellens (poor in all but one job), Rooney (obvs) or Boateng (no experience).

I'm almost certain it'll end up being none of the above!!!

[Tom]

On 11/02/2025 at 08:38, Tom said:

Knowing Rovers George Boetang will be in the running, coached the kids here, had some assistant manager roles and recently left…..Coventry!

From page 4 but just for the benefit of doubt I was joking at this point 

Genuinely wonder if some hack journo saw this and put two and two together and made a story from it 

[ben_the_beast]

Of the names mentioned I wouldn't be opposed to either Gary O'Neil or Gerrard. O'Neil had always impressed me, any time I heard him speak, and I felt he'd done a good job wherever he'd been until the wheels fell off this year when there were huge mitigating circumstances. 

As for Gerrard, I don't think he's got the tactical ability to manage a Premier League club where there is a requirement to play an attractive brand of football. However, I do think he can galvanise us, keep us solid and continue on the good foundations Eustice built. Someone mentioned Travis, and the fact he is a scouser, could see us aligning leadership in the dugout and on the pitch. The intangible perk is we've seen national media shining a bit more of a light on the chaos of the club since Eustice left. A big name like Gerrard could keep the spotlight somewhat on us, which wouldn't be a bad thing. 

[chaddyrovers]

10 hours ago, Neal said:

I think you've lost your head if you're ok with Wellens Chaddy... He's done nothing in his career to deserve a top 6 championship side. 

He has done a good job at Leyton Orient and I would take him over possible candidates like Karanka or Ryan Lowe. Like I said he isn't my first choice at all. My first 2 choices would be Gary O'Neil and Raphael Wicky. I'm sure other Foreign head coaches interested so I would be open minded on it and 

10 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Not really answered my question.

The structure we have had where people above the head coach often decide players against the head coaches wishes has proven dysfunctional. It pissed off Eustace to the point that he left. 

Why are we not bothering to change that? Why are you just accepting that when its caused issues?

Your questions were answered. 

So you telling me that Eustace didn't sign off any of our January window signings? Was Dennis and Woodrow signed against his wishes in your opinion? or is it the case he wanted his own targets who we couldn't sign for different reasons and wanted our attacking signings to be done earlier in the window?

Eustace's wanted a proven Championship striker and he also wanted us to spend some of the money we have received over the 12 months. Plus he didn't get the £5m spend he was promised when he joined. 

Have the recruitment team really done a bad job in signings in terms? Its been more than decent like Beck, Ohashi and Gueye whilst Toth has been poor so far but barely played, so maybe be time to see n the future, some improvement if he has regular game time. Whilst Eustace get his championship experience players in like Baker, McFaz, Batth in. 

 

21 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Its going to be him isn't it?  Because he is likely the cheapest option in terms of both his own wage, and also he wont have his own expensive managerial team

Not saying he will be good/bad/meh/whatever, but cost is going to be the primary factor

Most head coaches tend to come with their own number 2 and maybe another coach, but that's it. They don't have their complete back room staff with them

[JHRover]

I don't think anyone of any repute is going to look at this job and think it is a wonderful medium to long term opportunity. 

The best we can offer - and most attractive part to the job - is between now and May - we've got a play-off position within our reach, a squad clearly giving it everything with a great team spirit and a shot at promotion. 

It is a period of 2-3 months that not even Venkys and their stooges could wreck with budget cuts, poor communication and botched recruitment. 

Therefore the sole focus of whoever it is making this decision should be on getting the best man to come in immediately and have an immediate impact until the summer. This is why I suggested Warnock or Allardyce but I am sure there will be plenty of good calibre European options who are available and would fancy a 14 game crack at getting to the PL or a promotion on their CV and then reassess. 

Suggestions of people like Wellens, Boateng, Carsley are just dismal and totally inappropriate for the position we find ourselves in, as is the suggestion of sticking with the status quo based on one performance and result at WBA.

People with reasonable reputations or standing in the game are not going to look at Rovers and think that this is a 3-4 year project to get promotion. It is a 3-4 month project to get promotion and nobody - probably not even Venkys - has a clue what comes after that but it almost certainly won't be good.

So I'm not even particularly confident that the likes of O'Neil, Edwards, Gerrard would fancy this beyond the end of the season. Despite failures this season they've still got reasonable standing and reputations in the game and are still collecting big money pay-offs from their last clubs. Why gamble all that to come and work for this farce? They need to get their next moves spot on otherwise they are probably finished as top 2 division managers. They're better off limiting their terms to the summer or waiting until then and seeing what else becomes available. 

 

[roversfan99]

5 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

He has done a good job at Leyton Orient and I would take him over possible candidates like Karanka or Ryan Lowe. Like I said he isn't my first choice at all. My first 2 choices would be Gary O'Neil and Raphael Wicky. I'm sure other Foreign head coaches interested so I would be open minded on it and 

Your questions were answered. 

So you telling me that Eustace didn't sign off any of our January window signings? Was Dennis and Woodrow signed against his wishes in your opinion? or is it the case he wanted his own targets who we couldn't sign for different reasons and wanted our attacking signings to be done earlier in the window?

Eustace's wanted a proven Championship striker and he also wanted us to spend some of the money we have received over the 12 months. Plus he didn't get the £5m spend he was promised when he joined. 

Have the recruitment team really done a bad job in signings in terms? Its been more than decent like Beck, Ohashi and Gueye whilst Toth has been poor so far but barely played, so maybe be time to see n the future, some improvement if he has regular game time. Whilst Eustace get his championship experience players in like Baker, McFaz, Batth in. 

 

Most head coaches tend to come with their own number 2 and maybe another coach, but that's it. They don't have their complete back room staff with them

The head coach should always get the final say on transfers.

Point being, we shouldnt get a head coach specifically because he is willing/desperate enough not to have the final say on transfers. I dont get your mindset of accepting a dysfunctional behind the scenes structure with people seemingly disagreeing on signings and just picking someone willing to put up with it. Hardly screams going for the best candidate.

It was reported in the Lancashire Telegraph that Eustace didnt get his targets and youve echoed that. He clearly wasnt happy with January so I am guessing he didnt want the players mentioned.

I dont think recruitment has been that good but then again its hard when your budget is a bag of magic beans. You missed Cantwell and Cozier Duberry who have both been crap.

Ive already given my opinion on O'Neil prior to this vacancy. His replacement has more points for Wolves this season in half the number of games. Prepare for lots of goals going into our net if he comes.

But why is Wicky your choice? How much do you actually know about him aside from the rumour that he is on the shortlist?

[Neal]

15 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

He has done a good job at Leyton Orient and I would take him over possible candidates like Karanka or Ryan Lowe. Like I said he isn't my first choice at all. My first 2 choices would be Gary O'Neil and Raphael Wicky. I'm sure other Foreign head coaches interested so I would be open minded on it and 

 

Any manager will have a spell where they're doing a good job mate, it doesn't mean they should be taking over a premier League winning side who are challenging for promotion. I wouldn't want Lowe or Karanka but at least they've proven themselves with promotions and form in the championship. 

[neophox]

Boateng is worse than Wellens!!

[KentExile]

4 minutes ago, neophox said:

Boateng is worse than Wellens!!

Wellens is in a job, so surely he, along with anyone else currently in employment, is very unlikely to happen

When was the last time Rovers paid compensation for a manager because we had poached him from elsewhere? 

I can only think of Appleton during the entire Venkys saga, and that seems to have scared them off doing it again

Edited February 14 by KentExile

[pick32]

Don’t think anyone has a clue who the shortlist is, they may of had an idea who they wanted last Friday but applications throw that out the window. 

[martonrover]

2 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

I’m not a fan of Gerrard, but I think it’s easy to judge him in with those footballing greats who were terrible managers. He definitely got that Villa job too soon, and and the Saudi experiment is catching a lot of players and managers out. But he did a great job at Rangers,

My warmth on the Gerrard idea, is that with 14 games to go, the players need to stay motivated. They don’t really need coaching or a change of philosophy. If Gerrard came in, it would bring a huge spotlight on us. One which footballers love, plus you can imagine they would all want to impress him!? The script would be written…right?

Anyway, let’s see who we get 🙏🏽

If Celtic or Rangers is a Managers first gig, they can only really be judged when they move elsewhere.

Two big fish in a very small & crappy sea.

Gerrard  has done nothing since leaving Rangers.

I’d rather have Wellens, and that’s saying something.

[chaddyrovers]

18 minutes ago, Neal said:

 

Any manager will have a spell where they're doing a good job mate, it doesn't mean they should be taking over a premier League winning side who are challenging for promotion. I wouldn't want Lowe or Karanka but at least they've proven themselves with promotions and form in the championship. 

When has Ryan Lowe got promotion from Championship to PL? 

Sometimes a person can fit a club or squad whilst at others they don't. 

[davulsukur]

2 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

I’m not a fan of Gerrard, but I think it’s easy to judge him in with those footballing greats who were terrible managers. He definitely got that Villa job too soon, and and the Saudi experiment is catching a lot of players and managers out. But he did a great job at Rangers,

My warmth on the Gerrard idea, is that with 14 games to go, the players need to stay motivated. They don’t really need coaching or a change of philosophy. If Gerrard came in, it would bring a huge spotlight on us. One which footballers love, plus you can imagine they would all want to impress him!? The script would be written…right?

Anyway, let’s see who we get 🙏🏽

I'm normally against a short term, motivational, shouty type manger, one who goes to a club and there is an initial upturn in results before being found out (see Tim Sherwood etc.) BUT I agree that the foundations here have already been laid, we probably do need someone just to come in, leave most things well alone and just keep the players motivated and switched on.

If Gerrard is that guy, then go for it. Till the summer and then review.

(I'm not suggesting we go for Sherwood before anyone starts!)