I’m watching The Last Kingdom at the moment, and we’ve just got to a scene where they proclaim ‘the king is dead, long live the king’.
That’s what the next few weeks (days) will be about; finding the new king. Whatever your thoughts on Michael Appleton, it was his jungle up at the EPC, his stomping ground along the touchline and before long, a new man will wear the crown (or rather, the club branded training gear). He will be the new king, expected to be all things to all men. Some of you want him to be animated and interact with fans, others want a manager and more still hope for a good coach. What will be best and who do we think is in the frame?
I think we’re going to see much of the same if I’m honest. Those of you saying Darren Ferguson or someone like that are going to be very upset indeed. I think we’ll look to MK Dons and Liam Manning, or Blackpool and Neil Critchley as our blueprint. I suspect it might be a coach, respected at youth levels, who takes the role. They might have managerial experience, but they’ll be a Head Coach more than a manager. They’ll certainly need that reputation; plenty of players attracted to the club talk about Michael’s skill for developing youngsters That’s something we’re building the club foundations on, it’s how we are hoping to progress, so expect that.
Don’t expect a name from the merry-go-round. In fact, I don’t think you can expect a name that you were hugely familiar with before yesterday. I think we’re going to look to MK and Blackpool and think we’ll have some of that; I wouldn’t even be surprised if it isn’t a new face and Liam Bridcutt in a dual role. Maybe that’s wishful thinking on my part with Bridcutt, but we shall see.
Anyhow, if you’re up for it, read on to find out five candidates I’ve picked out as being perfect for the manager’s role here at Lincoln City.