Big Names In Contention For Scunthorpe Job

Scunthorpe United parted company with manager Russ Wilcox and assistant manager John Schofield today (8th October) following the side`s luckless defeat at the hands of League 1 rivals Notts County in the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy. A 14th minute Paddy Madden effort put the North Lincolnshire side one goal to the good before the Magpies` Stephen McLaughlin equalised nine minutes later. It was then down to pint-sized Republic of Ireland professional Ronan Murray to hit the back of the net and seal the deal for the Midlands side just over ten minutes from half time, Wilcox`s men being unable to break through County`s defence in the final 45, having something of a stonewall penalty waved away by the referee.

Wilcox was internally promoted in the 2013/14 season after the club`s board sent boss Brian Laws packing with United having been relegated to League 2, five points from the automatic promotion places and without a win in five games. Despite his appointment being begrudgingly received by supporters, the 50-year-old took his side back to the third tier of English football at the first attempt, breaking the record for the longest unbeaten run at the start of a managerial reign. Scunthorpe not recording a loss in their 28 games under the former Northampton Town player. He eventually picked up the LMA Manager of the Year award, receiving the honour from Sir Alex Ferguson who infamously referred to him as `Bruce` on a number of occasions throughout his speech.

Now 23rd in the league with seven points from their first 11 games and under the stewardship of caretaker managers Andy Dawson and Tony Daws, the United board will begin the process of finding the former central defender`s replacement. Dawson, who is an experienced player with the club, is the 6/1 (Betvictor) favourite to secure the role from his former boss though will have to fight a plethora of big names who are reportedly keen to seal the vacancy for themselves.

Irishman David O`Leary, ex-top brass at then Premier League club Leeds United, is next in the betting with both Betvictor and Skybet pricing the 56 year old as 6/1 in the market. A former player with the side, O`Leary was at the Leeds` helm for four years leading the club to UEFA Cup qualification twice and two Champions League group stages, the pinnacle of his career being a semi-final exit in the biggest tournament in European football. In his next role as Aston Villa boss, the Londoner succeeded in steering the club clear of relegation in all three of his seasons in charge, though a slow slide down the table from sixth to 10th to 16th saw the ex-centre-back lose his job. He has been without managerial employment since being sacked from United Arab Emirates outfit Al-Ahli back in 2011.

Perennial fire-fighter Martin Allen, the current head coach at Conference high-flyers Barnet, is the next name in the betting (10/1 - Betvictor) to be asked to save another club from the threat of relegation. The artist otherwise known as the Mad Dog built his reputation for coming out on the right side of survival scraps after saving all of Brentford, Notts County and Barnet from the drop. The 49-year-old journeyman has also achieved promotion with Gillingham in the 2012/13 season.

Both Betvictor and Skybet have recent Port Vale casualty Micky Adams as a 12/1 shot to take charge of the Glanford Park outfit just weeks after handing in his resignation at Vale. A former Premier League boss himself with Leicester City, the 52-year-old former full-back has achieved promotions on four separate occasions.

Other names apparently interested in the position include Reading`s assistant and former Iron player Andy Crosby (10/1 - Skybet), former England international Nick Barmby (12/1 - Betvictor) and out-of-work managers Richie Barker (14/1 - Betvictor) and Sean O`Driscoll (14/1 - Skybet).

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08/10/2014     © Frixo 2026