What Next?

The Demise of Steve Cotterill

So Cotterill has jumped ship. Seemingly not at his request but because the club agreed a deal to let him go. This seems to be a good deal for all parties. The club get some money and remove a manager that was becoming increasingly unpopular with fans and Cotterill gets to start anew with his reputation undamaged and maybe even improved (Sky sports described him as 'one of the countries brightest young managers') after an average spell at Fratton Park. I thought CSI's statement was interesting with a couple slightly snide comments alluding to their dissatisfaction with Cotterill's performance ensuring this would not be viewed as a big club poaching a manager.

So who is correct the Forest board or the Fratton End? I think his tenure will be viewed in time as a success. He came when the club was on it's knees, with a skeleton squad. Over the season he lost the clubs two most expensive players (Utaka and Nugent) was not able to play TBH, Brown or Hughes. Yet the club went on a record breaking run and was in with a credible chance of an unlikely play off place. His signings have been good. I still think Wilson for Kitson and Lawrence plus cash was a great deal, Varney and the Viking look good and Halford and Pearce have the potential to be a Symons/Awford-esque centre back partnership. However the start to this season has been poor and the fans had began to turn. Long-ball one up front tactics are acceptable as long as you are winning but Pompey were not.

There is the real potential that he will be Pulis #2 a good manager but not liked at the Park. I'm probably in the minority but I wish him the best.

But what to do now? Well I've already written at length about how I would implement a radical new General Manager / Director of Football approach - but failing that the new appointment will force the new owners to show their hand and wallet. They've done nothing wrong yet, but you would hardly call them transparent however they will only be able to attract a quality manager with certain budgetary reassurances. Potential managers can be categorised in three groups:

1) Top draw: O'Neil, Benetiz - would send a massive signal as they would only come if money was offered

2) Championship level: Davies, Curbishley - the sort of manager who would only come to a mid-to-top half side

3) Inexperienced: O'driscell, Bradbury, whittingham/Grey - this would be worrying but Lampitt has already commented that this will be a good opportunity for new blood, making a Grey/whittingham appointment unlikely.

I think the most likely is a middle ground appointment a Grant or Strachan who are probably the lower end of category 2, Strachan has lived in the area and Grant has some good will from his FA Cup run and dictatorial 'they can't take our spirit' this would placate but not excite the fans. And right now that's what the club and it's dwindling attendances needs.

We shall wait and see. A spanking by Barnsley would probably put an end to Grays / Whittinghams chances. But on Monday it will be time for Lampitt to earn his money and CSI to start showing theirs.