The Hotel End

Paul Cook for me.

He won't be interested.

May I ask why?

Michael Flynn of Newport would be my top choice but also Derek Adams has done a brilliant job at Morecambe and would be a decent shout.

The Cowleys and Paul Cook will be popular choices but I think both would see themselves as above us right now.

With finances tight, if Brady gets us actually playing front foot football, creating chances & scoring some goals, then why not him.....obviously if he wants it of course.

Looking forward to a new beginning...ready to renew my season ticket no matter what division we end up in  ;D

Because you constantly ask why. And ask for a link. And need things explaining to you. And then google the response, so that you can then slag it off.
You are so predictable.

 :o
Coming from you I take that with more than pinch of salt.

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/ex-portsmouth-wigan-and-sheffield-wednesday-linked-boss-paul-cook-turns-down-cardiff-job-reports-3110211

turned down Cardiff because they only offered him 6 months....I daresay we could offer him longer, but surely we wouldn't be able to get near to the money Cardiff could offer......

I'm sure someone said the last time Brady was put in charge that he wouldn't want the job permanently for family reasons and the commitments that come with being a full time manager. There again he may think differently now I suppose.  

A sensible and realistic target could be Gary Bowyer, interviewed last time and is an excellent coach who did a really difficult job at Blackpool in Division 1 last time really well.

You didn’t believe me did you?

That's the only realistic suggestion I've seen. Much better than Eddie Howe or re-appointing Dean Austin

I'm right in thinking that Sammo liked to get the ball on the ground a bit, right? Been a long time since McKay and Jacobs, I can't really remember.

I read Lincoln fans in their first game reminiscing how Curles football reminded them of rhe Cowleys. With that said, i'd probably be wary of that option.

Yeah I did believe you.....that's why I looked for the post!!

You told me so!!

Brady aside, Joey Barton, Sol Campbell and Ian Holloway seem to be the early frontrunners with the bookies.

Interesting Sol Campbell  mentioned. Did ok at Macclesfield and know Smith well! As for Joey - that would be a surprise and potentially might upset a few.

Genuinely can’t see me being upset with anyone. As long as they hate jigsaw puzzles, they’re good with me.

The bookies have no inside information, the names are literally just plucked out of the air until interviews happen, i'd pay zero attention to any of the names in there.

Dominoes ok?

No worries. Really good manager who gets his teams playing attractive football. Would be great but can’t see it happening

You never know, we had the England U21 manager once  :o

If Brady ends up getting something out of the side he could be feasibly given a chance.

If not, the bookies have Sol Campbell as favourite and I think that’s probably the way it’ll end up

And the Wales manager 

Not Sol Campbell, he saved Macclesfield like Gary Johnson saved us, a total myth!!!

Would like to see the trio in charge, at least until the end of the season, unless it quite obviously turns into a rapid, Austin style disaster.

Other than that, fairly relaxed as to a successor...Derick Adams, C**t Holloway or John Sheridan aside!

How about Sam Hoskins? I can see his name on a sheepskin coat one day

A small protest to KT but if Sol Campbell gets the job I will not be renewing my season ticket - in 2014 he wrote in the Times about a cup tie at Sixfields where he alleged the Northampton crowd were baying racist abuse at him - totally untrue from my view at the game with the reality as I saw it, simply being he was involved in a bit of a physical tussle and the crowd jeered him - nothing remotely racist from what I heard and certainly if there was I would be the first to condemn it. I’ve occasionally been ashamed of the behaviour of some of our fans but I can honestly say in 50 years of following home and away the number of racist incidents can be counted on one hand and limited to sad individuals - the suggestion of a crowd baying racist abuse simply does not ring true.
The man is therefore,  in my opinion and based on my presence at that game either dishonest or hard of hearing and did an unpleasant disservice to our club and fans - and also the genuine approach to drive racism out of football.

I like the idea of the little fcuker in the dug out at least I don’t have to watch him charging aimlessly around the pitch.

Paul Tisdale might be a good shout?

Sacked by Bristol Rovers with a shocking record this season.

But generally a good manager at this level. As has been stated above, you're not going to get a manager with an umblemished record unless you pluck somebody from non-league.

Yeah based on that misplaced accusation I’d be surprised if he wanted to come here and whether we’d want him...regardless of the fact that he’d be a disaster. We’d be warming up in ‘Kick Racism out of the Cobblers’ t-shirts.
Give the three amigos 3 or 4 games.

If Brady and co don't work out then I wouldn't want Campbell (arrogant and delusional) or Barton (a nasty piece of work and an outright scumbag).

Ollie wouldn't be a bad shout. I know he has a bit of history with us but he has a good track record (especially with Blackpool) and would at the very least provide a few good soundbites!

Tisdale might be good, he was my choice before we got Wilder, not complaining about that though! He seems to need time to build his own style of team, have we got that time?
Campbell is of course one of the best coaches in world football, so HE says anyway! Although he would obviously be high profile there is little in his CV to back up his claims.
Barton is another high profile nutter, he might be fun.
Would love to see the in-house trio do well and if Brady still doesn't fancy the job full time Sammo has unfinished business, maybe with Rico as no.2.
Stephen Robinson is an interesting name simply because I know little about him. Did well for Motherwell and had the good sense to resign just before they signed Harry Smith! Think he prides himself on developing young players, could work well with Jon Brady?
Paul Cook is obviously a great shout if only we can afford him.
Glad I don't have to choose! over to you KT.

Tisdale is somewhat overrated and Ian Holloway would be a disastrous appointment

I agree that Tisdale is overrated, plus he has just been sacked by a team that has the same amount of points as us. How could he possibly be an improvement?

So it starts. What criteria does everyone put on this recruitment process? If it’s subjective opinion then we might as well have stuck with Curle? Time after time we jump from the frying pan into the fire. If the right candidate isn’t available then keep the temporary in charge until there is? If I were a chairman I would have a top 3 candidates on my list at all times, even if we were top of the league? I do hope this is not yet another pull the trigger, invite applications and pick the best of the bunch that apply? That’s proven to be a disaster?
Curle has been crap of late, but has anyone stated who is the best replacement and specifically why? My criteria is as follows in no particular order.

1. Attractive football.
2. A track record of building successful squads from scratch on a budget.
3. No obvious failures such as relegation.
4. No justified dismissals.
5. Affordable and available.

Whilst I wouldn’t necessarily include this, living within an hour of Sixfields would also be an advantage.

If you can’t tick most of those boxes it will be yet another punt into the unknown and yet more strain on the finances? Let’s hope it’s not another knee jerk reaction?

Carr and Wilder were successful from non-league teams.

Better the devil you know so I hope J B, Sammo and Rico are given to the end of the season, at least.

Campbell and Barton are divisive. So many on the list have failures.

I think Paul Cook would be expensive but a good choice.

Currently manager at Dagenham & Redbridge, but fits all of the other criteria: Daryl McMahon (who would probably come with Steve Gritt as assistant)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryl_McMahon

Jason Tindall. Plays decent football and tbh was unlikely to lose his Job at Bournemouth. Very decent Coach and may see this a chance to get back into management..

i would like to see Jon Brady given time until the end of the season.
it will take time to change from one style of football to another and for his philosophies to cone through .
Let him also choose his own team around him because Rico and Sammo have been dictated by KT .
Give the man a chance - he will be good for this club

John Brady may not want it full time as he has other working commitments outside of football apparently.

The bookies list is laughable. Outside of the premier league and a handful of championship teams they really have no idea.

Not Sol. When he did the interview stating "it's not like it's rocket science to run a football club, especially when you get to that level" he showed his contempt for the lower leagues. He regulaly states he is one of the most intelligent people in football, but spouts some absolute rubbish. That's all before the article about racism at sixfields being the worst he has ever experienced. I also was there any heard nothing, not one person let alone the whole stand. I would want a public retraction before even an interview.

I think Brady, Sammo and Rico need a few games. I think they all have the passion about the club that is needed to inspire the players at the moment.
I'd also be speaking to Ricky Holmes about a short term deal!

It’s not going to be JB because the announcement would have said “ take charge till the end of the season”.
Paul Cook all day long, great track record both at Pompey and Wigan, plays good football what’s not to like.
Another option would be Neil Harris ?

There has been a disconnect between academy and senior team for years. We create good footballers but often have someone in charge of the first team who only has the ability to play direct. There is an opportunity to change this; otherwise, the same cycle will continue to repeat itself. I would not appoint a new manager until at least the Summer. Let's see how the new team go. As long as there is no friction over who is top dog - and I don't think there will be - this might be the start of something most of us are craving: a team that plays attractive football and gives chances to the young players the club creates.   

Paul Heckingbottom - did well in spells at Barnsley, good job at Hibernian & currently U23's coach at Sheffield United

Maybe Steve Morison, came back to coach before leaving to take over Cardiff U23's

I Know Joey Barton is a nutcase but his aggression, getting the players fired up could really help during a relegation scrap

Surely KT can't seriously consider Sol after his record at Southend

So once again this thread illustrates the nightmare faced by the club when considering who to appoint.

Let's hope that is remembered when it goes wrong, and not only when it works.

Please no

I’m not sure going down the route of denying someone’s experience on the basis that ‘you didn’t hear anything’ is advisable. You also don’t know that no one in the stand heard anything unless you asked everyone in the stand which I’d take a guess and say you haven’t. I’d tread with a bit more caution on an issue like this.

There will always be i told you so , i was against Johnson ,Page and Curle. but for Hasselbaink Austin and Edinburgh, we rarely all get it right , id back Brady Rico and Sammo ,even if some say Rico has no experience or Brady has never managed at this level, Brady gets the youth playing the right way and what better striking coach than Rico, bucket loads of goals at this level, and the current crop of lads up front could learn loads. Sammo was never given as much of a chance as many many others since , and his record wasn't appalling either. They have my 100% backing.

Hello and a good afternoon to all.

I would personally like Brady to be offered the chance to the end of season if this is something he wants, as it shows progression within the club.

If its to go outside, Phil Parkinson if he's in any way interested, he could probably welcome a smaller more homely club after Sunderland.

Having looked at the out of work managers list I fail to see a single name that jumps out as "let's get him in".
Definitely I do not want to see whinging characters like Barton, Cowleys or Derek Adams here. No also to Sol Campbell, Steven Pressley, Paul Tisdale and Gary Bowyer who had a win ratio of under 30% when Bradford sacked him last year.
Of those remaining that might be interested Cook could be a good option, unsure on Parkinson, O'Driscoll and McCall. Alternatively we could go for somebody with a decent experience as a number 2 or an up and coming manager from the national league.

If its Sol Campbell, I will disown the club.

Tisdale, rubbish.

Joey, would be lively but no thanks, we've already had one Barton and that didn't last too long.

Klopps on a bad run.

How about considering a none league manager. Gary Challinor at Hartlepool  worth a consideration. Youngish, reasonable track record and got Hartlepool into 2nd position, playing  good football.

Agree!
Am sure most of us would be quick to point to any racism amongst the ranks. Truth, it didn't happen...

The guy is a PR job for himself...and little else!

That’s not a bad shout at all.

Absolutely, listened to Sol being interviewed on 5Live some years back and was appalled at the amount of victim me, race baiting. i thought then I hope hes never near our club ever.

The recent comments about us being the most racist fans in the country just about sum him up, laughable.

Unbelievable Jeff, your manager's legged it to The Cobblers!

It’s Dave Challinor isn’t it - the guy with the long throw from Tranmere?

That bloke at Torquay seems to be doing alright. Worth a punt....?  >:D

Not sure we'd ever tempt him here but Paul Cook is the best name mentioned on this thread so far, along with Klopp  :P
We'd certainly see an attempt at a different style of football.
If you are reading KT dust the cheque book off!

 

Agree 100% I just think there is more chance of it being Sue Cook.

I would probably get Steve Massey from Helston.  :P

Personally, as proved when Curle came in when we were bottom of league 2, we need experience and I agree Cook is the best name suggested on here, however I can't see him coming to us.

KTs best appointment has been Curle, who despite this disaster of season, stabilised us and took us up.  Hopefully KT will have learnt from that and bring in a proven pair of hands to give us a chance of staying up.

Not holding my breath.

Good post, as usual Melly.
I think that 6th requirement of yours is more important than most think.

I also agree that we shouldn’t just accept what’s available now. I think the BRS triad will do us until the end of the season if needs be.

I would steer of anyone who has been an international as they seem to expect lower league players to be able to be as skilled and adaptable as they were. In my youth I would admit that Dave Bowen was the exception that proves the rule. Ron Flowers  got us relegated almost on his  own. JFH was also a disaster.

I wouldn't mind stuart kettlewell and Steven ferguson. They  guided Ross County to the Premier division. Good shout.

I’d like to see Brady have a try. I would have preferred him to Curle last time the job came up. Not sure If he wanted the job then or now or if he’s up to it, but I think hiring these tired old retreads is getting us nowhere. Smaller clubs than us do well finding a philosophy and sticking with it instead of changing managers, styles and players like smelly socks.
I’d have been happy to see a man like Brady, untried in the League but with potential (think Graham Carr), taking the helm 18 months ago. And  I’d have been perfectly happy to forego promotion if I could see some progression, with Academy players coming through and a better way of playing, and some long-term plan to stop us being a yo-yo team.

Pretty much agree with this, no disrespect to KC but it's been a while since he was in the "up & coming" bracket, I would like us to have a manager who wants to prove himself not someone who's looking to top up his pension from NTFC.

I see from the photos the club have put out that they are back training at Moulton.

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/cobblers-receive-lots-applications-managers-job-thomas-will-take-his-time-over-next-appointment-3132016

Generally dont disagree and for a long time I didnt comment on the story for the reasons above. I don't want to derail this thread but look back on this board, on twitter, on facebook etc and see similar comments from other fans who were there. Admittedly not all the fans but I would say a fair representation and not one supporting even 1 person making a comment. The game was also televised and nothing mentioned or picked up on the mic's. It was years later he made the claim.

Hello Frank.

How many posts in your first day?

Sutton manager Matt Gray being touted in twitter land...

https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-sutton-boss-gray-in-frame-to-land-northampton-town-job/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1613064212 (https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-sutton-boss-gray-in-frame-to-land-northampton-town-job/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1613064212)

Hearing we may be delving into non league

I think KC has just gone on the record to say that he's not going to even start looking at anyone until next week, so I'd take this as 'profile boosting' agent work that you see from time to time.

EDIT: I post this as ntfclad completely contradicts me, of course  ;D
Are there many non-league managers who are ready to play football on the deck?

He obviously run out of Lithium again, how long till he posts
a) a you tube video
b) post rambling none sense
c) gets banned again

Kevin Wilkin?

Of course you mean KT  ;D

Oh yeah, of course, KC himself is already gunning for Bristol Rovers, no rest there at all!

I think it's the University not Moulton.

That would be a turn up Curle gets to choose the new man.

I understand what you’re saying but a ‘public retraction before any interview’? It’s that complete denial that has been a problem for many years now.

Whoever takes the reins will have one advantage as he will be able to make major changes in the summer with so many players out of contract. I believe we have 8 players contracted beyond this season with another 2 who are out of contract having the option of another year.

Personally I find it difficult to believe there isn’t someone either in the frame or being a priority target? Given there is talk of Brady being a candidate etc suggests they are already in a job? It is almost incomprehensible that given our track record with recruitment, the owners have acted without a clear plan or direction, that would be staggeringly incompetent? Obviously that would need to be confidential? Whilst we are on the subject what are the failure standards we are putting on the team of Brady, Sampson and Richards? It’s all very well asking them to step up but what if we lose 5-0 for 3 games on the bounce? What are everyone’s expectations and what is the bare minimum in terms of performance at this point because we are taking a leap into the unknown? For me we have to create a significantly higher attempts on target ratio per game? Following Brady’s comments our possession % will be greater as will our completed passes? Above all our win ratio over the next 10 games needs to be higher, I would suggest mid 30%, pushing 40% would be fantastic? If we don’t make that then we will have to move again? Given the clamour to get rid of Curle I would imagine there has been a great deal of thought put into this by everyone, so I am really looking forward to all the different perspectives communicated over the coming days?

I should also add that it would be really refreshing to see a positive result from substitutions along with our best players remaining on the pitch. That would be a significant improvement wouldn’t it? Curles tactical proficiency mid match was shockingly poor this year, and wasn’t really any better last? The withdrawal of McCormack in the final a case in point? What was he saving him for, the lifting of the trophy? We slightly lost our grip of the game afterwards, not that it really mattered at that point? Just another example of an ill thought out change that had a negative impact for no perceivable benefit whatsoever?

I have no expectations of the Brady trio, just try and play football.

I think at the moment just a bit of pressure and a few shots on target would be a massive step forward.

Just....to score a goal?
That's a start.

Hopefully, no more zonal marking!!!

Another thread on this ... https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-sutton-boss-gray-in-frame-to-land-northampton-town-job/

It appears that we may have been monitoring the Sutton United Manager for some time. So perhaps your suggestion that we have sacked KC without any idea of replacement just might be misplaced? Better to see how the situation unfolds first before implying criticism. The point is that KT can hardly make public that we are monitoring another Manager JIC Curle blows it!

Think you've got the wrong end of the stick there ::)

Thank you for the PM you sent me, I thought I would share it...
   
“Mate, try and be a bit less obvious about who you are. You can be sussed out in five minutes“


No its not, so maybe longer than five minutes?  I thought this thread was for speculating over a new manager , not new posters? Neither did I realise there was a limit on daily posts?

For some on here I truly wish there were.

Not suggesting that at all Evers. I think they do have someone in mind and to reiterate and agree, they would most definitely need to keep it confidential. Just commenting that in the unlikely scenario that they don’t, then that would be more than disappointing given our recent history with managers? Sorry if I didn’t make that clear in the original post.

Id take Baldy and CJ as assistant.
They're the greatest
Cecil can clean the boots and make the ht tea

He would call the kettle black!

I’m certainly not adverse to bringing in an up and coming manager from the non league but wouldn’t it be a bit of a risk parachuting them into a relegation scrap in league one? By the way I totally admit that it will potentially be a risk whoever we bring in.

I agree. Kelvin & team have a very good history of keeping things quiet. I don't think we will get a great deal of info about who is taking over until it is done.

No I haven’t. It’s about time you got used to other opinions which don’t coincide with yours !  Typical hit and run snide remark.

Pot, kettle.

Bad luck Steve Massey never mind; chin up.  8)

Thanks Melly; was focusing on your second and third sentence which implied possible oversight given Curles unpopularity with fans. After all KT must have been aware of a deterioration of playing style/results.

I see my choice of managers odds have shortened...............
https://www.thesackrace.com/teams/northampton-town

Only one flaw, it only mentions those who are currently out of work... and the Bristol Rovers list is the same but with KC included. ;)

Can you imagine we get Paul Cook and they get Curle ............ ;D

Your Frank and you know you are, your Frank ................

If we do appoint Matt Gray from Sutton perhaps he will want to bring Harry Beautyman with him.

 ;D

I don't see me on the list? That's Steve Massey by the way. Ex-player lots of non league Cornish Jewson league experience, what's KT waiting for?

You'll have to keep looking for your mate Frank, 'cause he's not here!

Loony.

Thanks Steve  :'(

John Terry for me...

Think this would be a great appointment - and ambitious too! Sutton United flying at the moment, without seemingly being bankrolled, albeit with the 3G surface possibly adding an advantage - though like Oxford City, before installation, was an absolute quagmire!
Sick of the lower league journeymen or supposed names, JFH, Sol, Curle and Boothroyd

I love loonys, make the world more fun! Sat behind Jeema all the way to Hartlepool on a wet and windy Tuesday night. Amazing.

Paolo Di Canio for me. (If I don't get the job)

Curle wasting no time!

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/next-bristol-rovers-manager-former-4993346?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

😂

I don't know how serious these rumours regarding Matt Gray are as he has very little managerial experience. However, if we did appoint him we could again start singing " he's got no hair but we don't care".

Might be worth keeping tabs on this thread re Matt Gray...

https://suttonunited.proboards.com/thread/10907/matt-gray-linked-northampton-vacancy (https://suttonunited.proboards.com/thread/10907/matt-gray-linked-northampton-vacancy)

Personally, really looking forward to seeing how Brady sets the team up along with any improvement in style of play (won't be difficult). If he does well over the next 3/4 games (not necessarily results wise but just a noticeable improvement) then I'd be more than happy for him to get the gig (if he wants it if course!)

Although slightly concerned by his comment in the Chron about nullifying the opposition and exploiting their weaknesses.  Has a bit of a familiar ring to it...

Be careful, be very careful. Thats all I'm sayin'.

You do realise we have to gain a few points over the next 3/4 games~ don’t you think?

You stolen that from one of Keith's prep talks?
"That's all I'm sayin" leads me to think perhaps not!  ;)

Crucial next 5 games, will make or break us.

Baldy turned it down weds night, I'm ok with it but Evers is furious.

I've got far too much ironing to do. Sorry but that's what I do best.

Matt Gray asked about becoming our manager after today's game...standard response...scroll to near end of the video if you don't want to watch it all  ;D

https://youtu.be/kHU9gD41Yss (https://youtu.be/kHU9gD41Yss)

I was going to leave this for a day in the future and in light of my earlier comments about unity this may come as a contradiction, but it needs to be said? I have always been supportive of Kelvin Thomas in respect of the way he has conducted himself and the club financially.

However, I have to say if I were the majority shareholder and he was my CEO he would be down the road at this point? He has shown himself time and time again to be poor in the way he handles himself regarding the decision making process around managers. Reiterating the much laboured point around the personnel losses from the promotion winning side and the decision to reduce the budget to alleviate the impact of Covid, Curles job was immensely difficult this season?

Given we are going up a division the conditions you are imposing on your manager are massively challenging. Despite this that was absolutely the correct decision at that point IMO. However, once you have made that decision you need to stand by it and create the most productive conditions possible? Therefore right or wrong once that decision was taken the only thing you can control as an owner with regards to events on the pitch is to take the pressure off the manager. Had it have been me I would have told Keith Curle that given the unusual operating conditions no matter what happened his job was safe.

I would have emphasised from the start that I would guarantee his position into next season. That way at least the manager and side may play with a freedom rather than being paralysed by fear? That is not what happened though is it, Curle was obviously still expected to deliver a reasonable standard, so he was always still performing under the shadow of the axe?

I’m sorry but that is incredibly unreasonable and smacks of incompetence as far as I am concerned? Had the pressure been taken off him we may, and I emphasise may be sitting in a different position at this time? Which is it, to guarantee financial or division 1 survival? This muddled thinking and half way house subjective decision making is rank amateur? If there is not a clearly identified candidate lined up then right here is an example of how to compound a p1ss poor decision?

Don’t get me wrong the damage had been done and Curle unfortunately probably needed to go? It was too much to ask to give him the much sought after vote of confidence and expect him to change direction at this point? However, Kelvin Thomas needs to take a realistic assessment of his own abilities and perhaps take himself out of the decision making process regarding the football side of matters? IMO he’s proven to be not up to the job given his record?

Haha!

Think the smile said it all there, he's hardly distanced himself  ;D

Welcome back - Rob Page  ;D

Given Thomas’s track record I am not holding my breath  :P

That’s a man heading to NTFC  ;D ;D

At least he's a manager with something to prove, he's on the "Up & Coming" list not someone off the "Lower League managers " roundabout, just here to top up their pension.

Following a successful probationary period I would like to offer Deepcut a full time position as my secretary. Short hand and short skirts are preferable but not essential.

You really wouldn't want to see Deepcut in a short skirt  ;D

My issue with choosing Matt Gray would be that Sutton may have over achieved partly because of having an artificial pitch - training on it whilst many clubs struggle with using something appropriate and the actual match day advantage.

Good chuckle that😎

I think you could be right Dan.

 ;D :-*

He’s thinking why would I leave Sutton and risk my reputation at Northampton 😅

What type of football would we get to look forward to under Matt Gray?

I think he would be off his head to come here, we will most likely be in the same league next year, to quote MR Curle one on an upward curve and the other on a very downhill curve.
I also really don’t think he’s what we need at the moment, an experienced man with a good track record, there’s a few out there but they all cost money, over to our illustrious Chairman  :P

Would be a big step up for Matt Gray & we'd have to pay compensation after just sacking our own manager...

Gotta be someone out of work I think

Like I said mate there’s a long list, some have good track records the better they are the more they cost.
Getting a guy in who’s done nothing in management with only a couple of years experience at any sort of level is a massive gamble, I would have thought that Sutton would want decent compo as well.

He's harder than Page. Who would you take on if you were a bit younger?

I think the rubbing of the ear gave it away in the interview.

Give us this long list of those with a good track record..

what is the difference between Matt Gray and Jon Brady ?
Neither have league management experience but successful at non league level .
Jon knows the club and players and is also a very well respected coach .
He lives locally and deserves a chance with his own team around him .
The only issue is the players are not good enough and he has been left with a poor hand to play .
Give him a chance

Exactly, every manager has failed somewhere, although they usually save that for us!

Pissed off with it all now to be honest, at least we know Brady will give it his very best. I cant see Frank Lampard being so motivated.

Totally agree, whoever else comes in, they can't bring any quality players in now (won't be anywhere near match fit even if they could) so they would need to work with the existing squad, which is nowhere near L1 standard.

Brady should change the captaincy though, but then again, in a squad with no leaders (bar Sheehan who's never fit) who else would you make captain?

We're in a right mess that's for sure

Was'nt Mills FGR captain. If we intend to play him he is worth a shout.

Darell Clarke now Fav at 7/4.  :o

Could well be something in that....

https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2021/02/15/breaking-darrell-clarke-set-to-leave-walsall/ (https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2021/02/15/breaking-darrell-clarke-set-to-leave-walsall/)

Reports are that he has resigned from Walsall to take on another job. From what I can see many believe he won’t be going back to Bristol Rovers. Looks like people think he’ll either be joining us or Port Vale.

As Drilling has pointed out already, Brady lost his first game in charge. We need someone better in ASAP.

Is he any good?

Was brilliant for much of his time at the Gas...pretty meh at Walsall!

But he's gone to Port Vale anyway!

Did you ask to be judged after your first 2 days in a new job?................No!

Whoever they choose needs to be done quickly. Be that Brady or someone else.

If the choice is Brady then they absolutely do not need to rush it! Make a considered long-term decision, and even if they're hedging Brady should he get a good result or two in the next few games, they can't wait for a month or two to give it to him permanently.

So carry on with uncertainty for a few months?

You are judged as soon as you walk thru the door?

Would definitely prefer that to prematurely hiring Brady permanently at this stage, but think he should be given a go for a few more games. No transfer window, no real pressure on timescales, nobody coming in now is going to make a difference in the next two games immediately Realistically, they'll be something in the next few weeks, sooner or later depending on the performances and results over the next week.

Rubbish. JB OBVIOUSLY needs quite a bit more time. He's only had a day or two. Very impressive review of the upcoming Ipswich game. I could even understand what he was talking about, plain English. I feel much better about the future now, whether or not we stay up. KC has left so much to do to get these players into the right frame of mind and playing in a system where everyone knows their job. If we make a reasonable fist of trying to stay up and the football improves then give JB, Sammo and Rico the job.

I have to say it is a complete breath of fresh air listening and reading interviews today compared to what we have been used to .
Straight talking and common sense . Updates on injuries and intentions made clear .
Pseudo intellectual Curle have none of that and just spouted prophetic gobbledygook to throw you off the plot anc detract from his own miserable failure and turgid tactics that slowly ate your soul to the very bone .

Yes, would be good, but the last fella didn't manage it and he is the one who has left us in the right sh*te. I would be happy to go down gracefully with Brady in charge if performances start to improve and we actually start playing some football.

+1 Couldn't have expressed this more eloquently myself.

Is the answer Brady would be cheaper?

Comprehension isn’t your thing is it?
I SAID THERES ALONG LIST OF MANAGERS, SOME HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD.

Ian Holloway, Paul Tisdale,  Danny Cowley (two for the price of one)Paul Cook, Neil Harris, Keith Curle and Goldy Locks from AFC Bournemouth...there's an exciting bunch to start with!

I genuinely wanted to know the list of those with a good track record.

Untwist your panties, man!

Someone like Liam Rosenior is the type of guy who we should be looking at.
Young, exciting, smart.

Why have that though when you can have Joey Barton....

Apologies, panties untwisted,  I’ve already spouted on about Paul Cook, Neil Harris and Danny Cowley, are all listed well in the betting odds, unattached and we could get them if KT really wanted one of them.
I just don’t get why we’d go for a very inexperienced non league manager that we would have to pay compensation for?

Appointing a new manager is never an exact science, a certain amount of luck always plays a part and I for one am glad I don't have to make that decision.
We have no idea who may have applied for the job or who we have approached, this could affect who we end up with.
If people who are unattached such as Paul Cook have applied for the post we can maybe negotiate on our terms, if we approached them, all the cards are in their hands.
At a time when the club is practicing good house keeping, paying compensation for someone with no more experience than Jon Brady makes no sense at all.

+1

I honestly can't see any manager turning this set of players around. How many of the current squad would you be keen to keep ? It's obvious that Curle had lost confidence in a fair few of them as they are no longer with us.

Ask Brady et al to do their best to the end of the season and then rebuild from there. In the meantime the Board need to clarify the budget (flexed as appropriate) for next season so that the manager (new or otherwise ) knows what he has to play with.


PS Flexed with reference to the division we are in and the Covid situation with regard to attendance.

I don't disagree with what you are saying but you sound a lot 'closer' to Jon Brady than you are letting on?

Paul Cook and Danny Cowley I agree with.

Neil Harris plays relatively poor football so not keen.

Have any of you suggesting Cowley actually seen his team play??? He is at much hoofball as KC.

If we could get him and it's a big if, he would cone here, but Micheal Duff has always got Cheltenham in and around the play offs on a small budget and plays decent football, if he'd cone here, he would be my choice.

I'm struggling to see the logic in 'just giving it to the Brady Bunch to get us through to the summer so we can reassess then' mentality that I'm hearing. If the performance and mood in the camp justifies it surely they get they job and if its doesn't, or we elect to go elsewhere, so be it. I get that its not his team and he's been given a turd but no manager will have it any different.

In my eyes its paramount we get a someone appointed soon to;

a) give us a chance to stay up as it appears there will be 7 teams that will be in the mix and the gap isn't insurmountable, albeit we will need to score some goals!
b) give the new guy, or Brady, time to access the current squad in readiness for the summer transfer window, tie contracts up and also line up targets

We are far too often caught flat footed at the start of a season when we change manager, loose players and miss out on targets.

Also, whilst I know money doesn't grow on trees and our Chairman is keen on 'good housekeeping', I believe a manager is paramount to success so surely that justifies a potential compo payment to get the right guy in?

For me, with the position we are in and the potential to stay in L1 and build in the summer, I feel someone like Derek Adams at Morecombe would be a great appointment and he's out of contract this summer so would need limited compo. Good CV with long stints at all his clubs and is working wonders at Morecombe. Even with my claret tinted glasses on I would see us as a more attractive proposition than Morecombe with their budget and general size.

Duff would be a great appointment, and similarly to Adams, I would imagine he has taken Cheltenham as far as he can almost due to their budget constraints. I'd be amazed if they kick on should they get promoted as they will no doubt loose most of their decent players.

The last paragraph sounds familiar 😁
Not a bad shout though.

HAHA I was thinking the exact same as I typed that bit!!

Of course you are, it happens naturally it’s what people do. A poor result for your pal on Tuesday could be curtains. Very poor judgement by you 8)

I am self aware to know that this post will have me accused of:
1) being naive
2) lacking ambition
3) sticking to my own
But ...
I value loyalty and passion highly for footballers and their managers.
Brady, Sammo and Rico have a passion for the team and live locally which gives them loyalty to a sustainable future for our club.
The journeymen manager who sees this as a brief stop over on their career really doesn’t have the same passion and understanding. The same could be said for the player loanee or short term contract player as well.

I want a manager that really cares for this club and it’s success. Someone that lives a 2 hour drive away from Sixfields to co**** themselves from failure and the realities of small club management is not for me thank you.

Wilder wasn't for you then?

Was Wilder a journeyman when he came here? Perhaps.

Powerful alternative opinion.

Might have misread the original comment but 'eloquent'  ::) ; are you being sarcastic? This is not a criticism but slightly incredulous !  8)

Sorry if I've missed any, but these are the managers who have won promotion as a Northampton Town Manager...

Curle - Bristol
Wilder - Sheffield
Calderwood - Scotland
Wilson - Banbury
Atkins - Birmingham
Carr - Newcastle *I think!*
Dodgin - Gateshead
Bowen - Wales

No idea where the managers we've had came from who didn't win us promotion but there's plenty of them. Just not sure what the collaboration between achieving success coupled with a prior, passionate affinity to the club/area is. Sorry, was a bit bored this lunchtime!!  ;D

If I had to pick one of these names that are being bandied about, and one we could realistically afford, then Id go with the current Cheltenham Town manager. Or maybe a young up and coming coach like Rosenior, and create a director of football type role to oversee his and the teams development. Appreciate the latter is doubling up with cost though, so may not be a realistic option at the minute.

I cant help but feel though that a trouble shooter is needed to shake up the dressing room, but the issue with going down that route is if they keep us up this season, then what next beyond? Probably best to look for a long term solution but time is of the essence if we are to give the new guy a decent crack at keeping us up this season.

Really tough call for KT and co. Interviews by zoom, all that malarkey. Not ideal is it?!

I really hope that JB gets a result tonight as a poor one will make progress difficult for the Club, fans and himself.

I think this is quite a tricky appointment. These are the criteria IMO in order of importance:

1. Someone with sufficient League 1 - or at least football league - experience to keep us up. Personally I'm not convinced that a non-league manager would have sufficient nous to be able to scout League One opposition and work out how to effectively combat their threats. It's just too big a jump IMO, but I would feel differently if we were in League Two. 

The financial ramifications of staying at this level IMO are too great to risk an appointment purely based on potential and long-term vision. We need to appoint someone who has the best chance of keeping us up.

2. Someone who plays a mixture of direct and passing football  If we appoint another hoofball merchant then 0 progress will have been made and we may as well have stuck with Curle. The squad and the fans are crying out for a different approach. However, if we brought in someone who was too much of a purist or someone like JFH with a tendency to over-complicate lower league football then things might lurch to the opposite extreme. I've said before that I personally wouldn't want to watch the type of powerpuff pass-it-to-death football peddled by MK Dongs and neither would I want to endure another proponent of Curleball. The type of football I personally like to watch is a combination of direct play (crosses into the box, physical aggression, the odd ball over the top for pacey forwards to run onto) and passing (overlaps, proper width, strikers laying things off to onrushing midfielders, passing through the midfield). The type of football played by Chris Wilder, in short.

3. Someone with a track record of developing youth players
  There are some talented youngsters at the club who desperately need nurturing: McWilliams, Chucks, Pollock, Seal, Dyche etc. In the post-Covid era when money becomes tight I think youth development is going to become more and more important. I'd love someone to take over who could set up a genuine pathway for us there.

Those personally are my criteria. As I've said before I wouldn't personally be looking at non-league managers right now. One possibility would be to give it to someone experienced on a contract until the end of the season and then look to make another long-term appointment in the summer.

Of the names mentioned so far, I personally like Cook, Flynn and Duff.


               

And that’s my point......
One year of great football, hope and enjoyment. Then ....
Wilder had no loyalty to NTFC and is desperate to manage his home team club and keep his wife and family happy.
He pisses off and leaves us in a higher division with a confused squad. Then we get Page, Austin, Edinburgh, Jimmy and KC. How did that work out for you my friend?

It's going to be a relatively brief job for anybody at our level. Failure = sacking, genuine success = moving on to another club.

Being local makes absolutely no difference.

Having a genuine passion for the club and its long term success might though? Do you think?
Listen, I know it’s not a popular view so I don’t expect much agreement.

The issue with JB is that if he takes it on a permanent basis, what happens when it doesn't go as planned?
He's then out of both a managerial and more than likely the Youth coach job, he might be settled in the area and content to be doing what he is currently.

Quite logical if not obvious, that if Michael Duff goes anywhere, it will be to Bristol Rovers!

He’s well up in the betting odds at Gas.

Bungle,  The Great Graham Carr came from non league as did most of his players and he didn't do so bad.

But as Bungle said, he would feel differently if we were in League Two.  ;)

He is a teacher at Wooton primary school.

On the basis we passed it around a bit at Wembley. Come back Keith, all is forgiven.

Not quite sure what 'Of course you are' is referring to. Can't see in my comments where 'are' is the correct verb. Also, I don't have any 'pals' in NTFC management. Your third sentence, what are you referring to as 'poor judgment'? Apart from not understanding anything you said, could I agree with you please? Obviously the best way.

Big worry for me is that Brady feels a bit like the Dean Austin situation.

How can, even you Evers, query a response from one poster to another expressing agreement with what has been said (by B&S) and the way it was expressed? Can you not just leave alone comments between other posters which have nothing to do with you?  

Thought that JB's side played ok tonight 8)

 ;D ;D ;D

You are on the thinnest ice imaginable.

Stick to commenting on the football, rather than scrutinising and dissecting everyone's posts.

I know what you mean but Brady has at least managed previously (not at league level admittedly) & is a lot more measured & composed than Deano imo...

Everything Brady said last night resonated with supporters. He tries not to complicate things & gives clear concise answers to the questions asked...

If it's Brady or someone else, they've only got the squad KC assembled to work with, so they are already limited with what they can do...

If a new manager comes in & we still can't score what then?

I'd probably say give them 3 more games, so a fair 5 total to gauge the ability and assess. If there's a game where we're total out of the depth and it looks obvious it's going to not work out, then pull the plug early, but I think 5 games is a fair chance to assess what they're about to a long enough extent you can make a more permanent decision.

I’d agree with this in principle Welly, the only caveat to that is we still have a very good chance of staying up, therefore can we afford to wait that long?

Of course, Brady might not want the job permanently anyway, in which case this speculation is irrelevant.

Local journalist response is that's he's non committal either way...

You never know we might soon get an update from KT regarding candidates & if Brady actually wants it...

Perhaps ntfclad can clarify if Brady wants it or if he's got no chance anyway

Ahhh KT that bastion of communication  :P
For me KT really doesn’t take his responsibility seriously enough.

I wish you'd have warned us sooner about KT.
Now Trump has disappeared in to his hole, what I really miss is diatribe with no susbtance from a self-appointed expert, so thanks.

No substance 😂 your as thick as mince Monkey if you think he’s doing a good job.
Thanks for your comment shame you don’t have an opinion but I guess you need a brain for that.

Oh he wants it alright .

That'll be embarrassing then if he doesn't get it...

We are now stuck with the squad we have, barring any miracle free agents missed by the rest of the world.

Brady has as good, if not better chance of ogetting them to start firing than any journeyman manager we're likely to be able to get in. Let's get real, unless we prise someone who is currently hot away from the job they're in, like we kind of did with Wilder (and tbh I think that was our one moonshot, we won't ever get another) we will end up with another Curlio. Someone out of work because they were fired for failing somewhere else.

So why not give Brady til the end of the season? On all known form so far this season we're certs for the drop, so how bad can it get? He knows the players, he must have seen stuff that made him think "if I were in charge...." And he sounds infinitely more educated than Curlio in what he has planned.

I'm for giving him a go.

Well said, BIG +1...  :)

😂

*You're

I have an opinion but you probably missed it as I haven't banged on about it every 5 minutes.
I'm sure it is a good release from the mundanity and frustrations of your life outside the message board though.

I know it's not your fault man, we all have to work with the cards we're dealt.

Hilarious, man, hahahahah, TBH I think everyone has frustrations at the moment, lockdown is not ideal.
You’re a Cobblers fan so I’m not going to lower myself by insulting you, I just found your comments a bit over the top, so I guess your comment above refers to you far me than me.

Fixed it for you. All the best.

Agreed

why ?
as you would expect  , he will want some level of protection.
If it fails , he runs the risk of losing his job at the under 18s as well .
He may or may not also insist on his own team around him that he has appointed and trusts .
First things first - he needs a win and some goals but he would jump at the opportunity i am sure of that .
I have advocated this move since mid way through last season .

That's a big enough insult at the minute!

;D

Wow I’ve really got under your skin  8)
Try yoga, live for today, think of at least 3 things your grateful for ( this could be a challenge for you)
All the best.

If you are in competition for something, like a job, it isn't exactly beneficial to be revealing your desperation for that job. Especially through a third party, like you, who has expressed and attributed that to him on his behalf.
Yes, state your interest, but not in the desperate manner you did.
If I was you, I'd stop speaking on his behalf until he's got what he wants or it is resolved to his satisfaction.

My goodness, there's a lot of bickering going on at the moment (Manny v Monkey, Evers v everyone). We've got enough to worry about at the moment being effectively managerless while sitting in the relegation zone having only scored one goal nearly two months into the calendar year during a global pandemic.

Chill, guys; we've enough on our plate as it is! :P

I wish people would worry more about themselves than me! In any case unable to respond directly😢 ;D.  Am warming to JB after a somewhat shaky start!👍

If Brady does want the job and is offered it, the sensible thing to do would be to appoint him until the end of the season with the option to drop back to the U18 job if it's not extended beyond that. That's low risk for both parties and makes business sense from KT's perspective (if he feels that JB has as much chance of keeping us up as any other candidate).

The important thing for me is to have a manager that the players want to play for. The likes of Marshall + Rose will benefit from the renewed faith from JB, and I like the way he handled the Bolger situation. Our most successful managers have been good man-managers. The likes of Johnson, Boothroyd + Hasslebaink etc who had excellent track records previously had things quickly fall apart when they lost the dressing room and couldnt get it back. I think Curle actually did a decent job of bringing in players with the right attitudes and getting rid of "troublemakers". Feels like they just didn't buy in to his methodology - hard to blame them when it continuously didn't work and wasn't ever adapted.

The repetative bickering can be sorted very easily, ask Everbrite and Manwork to give their keyboards a rest..........even for 24 hours.
We are already aware of their opinions!

Not sure if JB has appointed you as his spokesman but the next 2 or 3 games are critical for him! If he does well that will or may sway KT. His coaching credentials seem impressive as was his team selection against Ipswich? I also think it is idle to speculate that most (potential) Manager’s are just journey men. Most of us could nominate at least 6 acceptable prospective Managers?

Some good points made in this well balanced opinion ; the only comment missed is on Dean Austin?

Go on then? ;D

Sorry not possible  8)

just to be absolutely clear - i am not speaking on behalf of anyone let alone the current manager - ridiculous comment .
just to be doubly clear - i take no instruction from you

Not instruction just friendly advice... ;)
I would also like JB to be successful.

Cherie Lunghi, did all right at Reading.

Are you till following me around sniping, bless  8)

YAWN!!!

;D Forgot about her!

I want JB to succeed, at the moment filling me with some confidence.
However, if it goes wrong, think we need a personality.
His dad is a Cobblers legend - worked wonders for a time, though his experience of League One is limited, think his personality would prevail, and he would certainly be vocal in his technical area...Alan Carr could be the answer!

Why not, it's been a while since we've seen an Epic Game(show).

Personally I was really encouraged by the Ipswich game. Didn't see the Burton game so can't comment on that but there is no way any manager could have turned the team around after one training session so I can understand why they lost that.

I though against Ipswich we saw a Cobblers team playing with confidence for the first time this season. The way we were getting in behind their back line was very impressive giving the short amount of time Brady and co. have had - but for the lack of composure of Hoskins, Sowerby and Marshall in those big moments we arguably could have wrapped the game up in the first half!

I thought Horsfall and Jones looked very solid I'd keep these two playing together until they have a bad game - with Sheehan coming back, Bolger should not even get a look in. I'd also argue that Hoskins needs to be dropped for a couple of games at least. Against Ipswich he was looking rather half-hearted and looked like he both needed a rest, but more importantly, needs to be made aware that he won't automatically play in every game. It's been too easy for him for too long to stay in the team.

I also thought the use of full backs getting forward was effective and contributed to us being excited to watch overall. If the team play even better than the last in the next game against MK, I'd be fully convinced to give Brady and co. the job until the end of the season at least. Even if not, I'd still probably go for them UNLESS we can secure a top manager for our level like Paul Cook, or a talented manager succeeding in League Two such as Duff or Flynn.

Got to say I thought Horsfall looked a completely different player. Note of contention though, I actually thought Hoskins did alright?

I thought Hoskins did ok too Melly. However we are both not in the Mangers Trio so if Hoskins is selected by JB on Saturday then we know that it is on merit. Might be interesting with Miller apparently coming back tho'; let alone Sheehan! Looking forward to Forum experts selecting their team on here.

Same here, I cant see past JB, assuming he wants the task, another wandering journeyman manager doesn't fill me with confidence.

He knows the club inside out and his heart is here. I would give him a one year possibly rolling contract which would give him this season, a summer to work on a team and a decent run next season, whatever division we are in.

Its going to take a year or more for any decent crowds to return and tbh without crowds it doesn't make a difference playing Sunderland or Stevenage.

If JB fails, yes get Alan Carr, why not?

I have to say that Brady's interview after the Ipswich game was the best I have heard from any Cobblers Manager since Wilders magnificent rant at Notts County. Hoping that things turn out well for him.

Well, Alan Carr is currently penning a comedy about Northampton, so it makes sense for his next project to be a tragedy. ;)

He’s a sh1t comedian so he might as well have a go at football management, just not with us.

I would not even call him funny. Deeply irritating would be more apt.

Who, Gary Johnson?

been there, don't want to go there again thank you

Following us is laughter and tears every day, just as funny as it is tragic but a bit tasteless. Similar to laughing at disability in the way Frankie Boyle did when he was funny.

My concern with any future manager is that I have had enough of the 'direct style is acceptable if you get the result' philosophy. We have endured it with Curle, Boothroyd and even going back to Atkins. Therefore I do NOT want either Pulis or Cowley.

I have no problem in running with Brady so he can try and prove himself at this level especially after expressing his initial philosophy.

Recent seasons I have been going to matches because of the company of freinds not because of the football served up.

A Geek Tragedy?

 ;D

Tend to agree but suggest a tragedy play by Euripides one of three Ancient Greek playwrights whose work of 92 plays have survived. He wrote the Bacchae genuine horror play.

Those Greeks, eh? They knew how to urn a living.

Taking over as the new Cobblers' manager would give him something to get his teeth into ...

His brother, Jimmy Carr left half for Fakenham.

Have you done a prayer/chant for the game v MK Dons

Oh Lord I am so very small
But Jesus Christ give me the ball
I will thwack the useless twats
And send them packing
No doubt of that
When all is done, unlike the Mons
They scuttle back, the sore un-dons.

Sorry SOG should be in the actual MK Dons thread by GPC  as EB Claret has already asked for a prayer.
Can you please consider reposting in that thread.

Thank you

I'm going to put it out there and I realise that it'll probably be a ridiculous suggestion but...Mark Robbins!

I know he's currently tied into his contract at Coventry so would cost too much for us to pay that off as well as him probably not wanting to drop down a division but, he's done a great job there taking them from League two to the championship with limited funds, no ground and all their best players getting sold with none of the money going back into the club.

He's got Coventry playing good football and knows how to get the best out of players, that's who I would get in if I could although I think that Brady has done a good job so far so he might yet be the right man for the job, time will tell.

Doesn't the beginning of your middle paragraph answer why the suggestion is such, mentioned in the opening sentence???

Ohhhhh you're right!

Silly me for posting an opinion on a community forum, thanks for pointing that out and teaching me a lesson for future posts.

OK, so how are we going to tempt Robins away from Cov. Will it be with the millions at KT's disposal?
Fcukin Cov. Hope you dislike them as much as me.

It's only a suggestion, it doesn't mean I've come with a plan of action on how to obtain him as well.

My thought process was maybe going from having no budget or control over who comes in or goes out is a decent enough attraction and currently we're a league one football club so not a huge drop down the pyramid.

Only posted cause I thought it would be cool to discuss the potential manager position not to ruffle feathers.

My view is Robins would be a very good choice but we don't have a cat in hells chance of attracting him, unfortunately.
Got to applaud your choice of team though 👍

Yeah I know it's a shame cause I think he could do a really good job for us but like you say we don't have a chance in hell getting him.

I hope whoever takes the reins will turn our fortunes around and at the least keep our place in League one this season, So far from what I've seen Brady do in a short space of time things are looking promising we just need someone to put the ball in the back of the net!

Spot on.

mad cap comment of the day .
Ridiculous suggestion

Matt Gray 3-0 up at half time. Finishing his career there in form  ;)

Do you think its a done deal??

Let's hope not. Even after the frustration of today's result, I've seen enough of an improvement to think that Brady deserves a proper crack.

A proper crack as in the rest of the season and then the summer transfer window? I can't see it myself sadly.

Its League 1 survival or nothing......the club is far less saleable in League 2.....

I'm not sure the division makes any difference so long as we are 'league'. If its sold new owner will come in and budget accordingly.
It's all about the land still isnt it? That doesnt change according to our league position.

Nothing is going to happen re the land.....we are in the middle of an economic slump, there's a new Council arriving on the scene, and the bad taste from the previous deal is still fresh in the mouth. Nothing to see for a few years IMO.....

Nor but love the idea of Brady as his Assistant.

Whose gonna be stupid enough to buy the club then? It's not looking good is it, but then someone took it off Cardozas hands so you never know?
A sugar daddy wanting a toy or benefactor with links to the club maybe.

What exactly has Brady done wrong since taking over? And don't tell me the results. Everyone can see that there has been a 100% improvement in performances. Plus the manager talks sense and shows passion. Please don't start another merry go round of managerial appointments,

The results.

Realistically, is anyone else going to get anymore out of this squad, that Brady has inherited from KC?

With the limited time he's had on the training ground, I think Brady is doing a good job, in turning this bunch around.

Today we played some the most exciting football we've seen in ages...

Also, when Brady says front foot football, he actually means it!

Another huge week coming up, so if KT is not going with Brady & appointing elsewhere, rather he does it sooner rather than later.

Brady’s remit initially was surely to make us competitive? Is anyone able to make a reasonable case that he has failed? I personally wouldn’t like to see anyone else brought in until the end of the season at least? My only concern is perhaps that Brady may not want the job in the medium to long term? He has kind of said as much?

Either back Brady fully, none of this end of season bollocks, or appoint someone else full time.

And thats the decision that needs to be made.....me personally I'm pleased the style of football seems to have improved, and I believe that the results will soon follow.

Its four from 7 at the bottom, nobody is really getting any sort of consistency. If we were 6/8 points adrift i'd be advocating an experienced head to come in and try and save us from relegation. We are not at that point yet and performances over the past few games have seemed to show that we won't be.....

It's very similar to the Dean Austin scenario in my eyes. Comes in and improves the performances but results don't really follow. If he was taken on full time the pressures start to become a little different as Austin found out to his cost.

I’d disagree. Pep couldn't even lead this squad to survival.

Give Brady till the end of the season then take stock.

If Brady isn’t to be the man we would be a much better proposition for someone else at the end of the term.

Game of opinions!

My view, whoever it is, appoint permanently now, if anything it gives them a headstart on what needs doing in the summer.

Or gives the fans 3 months to get on their back and start calling my for their head after being relegated with KCs squad

That's going to happen no matter what.

Stephen Robinson formerly of Motherwell is now 2nd favourite with BetVictor at 6/1.

Because someone has lumped ten quid on him. The bookies have no clue who is coming in, and will react to any movement in the market.

Any updates ntfclad?

If you assume our 5 year objective is to be a viable League 1 team, pushing for play off and promotion regularly ...

We need a solid manager who’s going to stick around for the long term and have genuine passion for the club’s success and long term health.

I don’t see anyone better to do that than Brady, supported by Sammo and Rico. Let’s give them a 12 month contract and get on with it!!

I’ve had enough of this bloody manager Merry go round! Best case scenario, a young manager comes here, has success , moves on and we have 6 more years in the wilderness! No thanks - had enough if that thanks!

Well we had the rumours about the Sutton boss Matt Gray, but I hadn't seen this article before today....

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/14070856/northampton-danny-searle-aldershot-exclusive/

Good find!

Rather offer it to Brady, IF he really wants it & let him restructure the the who footballing side of the club (as he's previously mentioned about a fluid footballing identity throughout all age groups)

I don't agree with those saying it feels like the Dean Austin era, Brady comes across much more knowledgeable & professional than Austin ever did.

I too am sick of the managerial merry go round, only to possibly get someone in half decent who'll leave at the first opportunity.

We might have to go down to rebuild properly but if it means playing some good football, scoring goals & finally providing some entertainment, then so be it as he's only got the squad KC assembled to play with so any ooc additions won't be match fit for weeks.

We were defo going down under KC anyway & it was absolutely dreadful to watch on ifollow nevermind in the flesh.

Rumour on Facebook that we've also looked at our FA Cup conqueror the Oxford City boss David Oldfield.....with the National League South season voided he might be available?

I have started looking forward and enjoying watching my team again, after enduring the sh*t KC served up.

The next two games will shape our season and with Millar and Sheehan starting I am confident of 2 results.

Brady has stopped and then turned around the oil tanker so hopefully full steam ahead with the limited squad he has inherited!

I have no confidence in KT, with his past record, bringing in the correct new manager, so I would give the "Brady Bunch" the position until the end of season and decide then when you have a fuller picture.

Russell Martin thinks they got away with it. We win that game if Mitchell had done what he’s paid for. Tough on Brady! However, I think the Dean Austin decision will be in the back of KT’s mind. He has to win the next game to have a chance of landing the job.

Russell Martin quotes below:

"It's difficult because we were playing a team who had real belief in their new manager and what they're doing. They had real intensity and desire and they're enjoying themselves and you could see that.

"Credit to Northampton, I thought they were great today and they will feel really unlucky not to win the game, let alone draw it, because we gave them way too many chances”

Further to the decision KT has to make. In his interview about KC’s sacking he did mention he wasn’t that fussed about style, more interested in results. Ultimately that mindset won’t bode well for Brady, he has to get results allied to go with the nice football. I wonder how many more games he’s given to audition.

Why do people keep saying about going down then rebuilding. It will be a disaster if we go back down and then we'll be down there for another few years. We need to stay up if at all possible. So whatever appointment is made it needs to be done soon to give us the best chance possible.

Spot on TP, some of our fans aspersions are unbelievable, we need to stay in this league at all costs.
I actually like watching JBs team, it has passion and is good to watch BUT it’s a results business!
I think we can beat Dale Tuesday and I am pretty sure it will spell the end for the Brady Bunch if we don’t.

Sorry but I don’t understand what the motivation would be for bringing in one of these non league managers over our current management team? No track record at this level, no knowledge of league players, untested under the pressure of league football? I know everyone has to start somewhere, but I’d rather we were not guinea pigs in yet another leap of faith into the unknown? FFS if we can’t be reasonably confident that we are improving upon what we’ve got then these candidates shouldn’t come close to being considered? Otherwise we will never move on from this finger in the air subjective decision making that has failed us time and time again? It’s not like they are breezing in and out for free? Seems increasingly likely to me we may have got rid of Curle without having a target in mind? If so that’s frankly rubbish, so let’s not compound it with another half arsed school boy decision eh?

You could say the same about Jon Brady. Yes, he knows the club from working with the kids but has only managed Brackley Town...does he know anymore about the pressures that will come with the job, if he gets it.

Yes we do need to stop in this division but we had a very "experienced" manager in KC, but he couldn't get the required results from this group of players and the football was dreadful. We now have a temporary manager who has changed the style and got us playing football and, very importantly, got us to score again. At this moment, the results haven't improved a great deal, BUT, we now look like we can win games because we look like we can score goals.
     I see quite a few saying "It's a results business" which is very true, but the facts are that the best manager in the world is limited by the players they work with and, maybe, the players we have wouldn't keep us up with Pep in charge?
     The way I see it is that we tried a "Results at all costs" manager in KC, setting us up not to lose and to hope we just might sneak a goal from somewhere, but it failed with this group of players. we now have some one trying a different way, he's had THREE games and there is a marked improvement and, with a bit of luck, we could have had 6 points from the last 2 games, with the same group of players. Unfortunately we are stuck with some players, signed by an experienced manager, that are not up to standard, but I think JB is getting a lot more out of them than KC did.
     We might lose most of the remaining games and get relegated but that will be down to KC's recruitment, not JB lack of League management experience and I can't see anyone getting more out of this group than JB at the moment.

Carton - How can you say someone else won't get more out of the team, or find a way of gaining points. It's an unknown that nobody knows the answer to. A new manager may have won that game 3-2 yesterday by shutting up shop after taking the lead or equally lost the game 4-0 by not having a clue. Every possible manager will have different ideas on how to get results. Some work and some don't.

I think you make a lot of valid points, I just don’t think Brady will get time unless he starts winning. It’s unfortunate but I don’t think KT will wait with games running out.

I don't agree with this. The fact that games are running out is, in my opinion, a better reason for sticking with JB, especially as there has been a clear improvement in performances. Of course, it's results that count, but we look far more likely to get them now. In any case, knowing the players is a huge advantage in this situation. Even a (no doubt very expensive) proven manager at this level would be stuck wiith the same players, with the added disadvantage of needing a few games to "get to know his squad", which would probably mean more poor results short-term and we'd be just as likely to end up relegated.

The only reason for changing manager, in my view, would be if we reach the point where there's no hope of survival and/or if JB doesn't want the job permanently.

His statement indicates that he has spoken to some of our players.  ;)
Results, not necessarily performances, will be crucial to JB getting the job. I hope that he does get those results.

Very true, someone might be able to get more, but as a lot of pointed out, if we bring in an outside experienced manager, it's going to be another 3 or 4 games, at least, until he decides on his "best team". But we are not going to get Frank Lampard or Slaven Bilic, we would finish up with someone who has been sacked at Championship or, more likely, League 1 or 2. They've all been sacked for a reason, so what makes you think they will be better at NTFC than there previous job?
   We know JB has made a marked improvement, but we don't know if anyone else would improve us do we ? Do we REALLY want to go back to a "Results at all costs" manager like Curle?

    I don't !

The next 6 days will tell us if Brady has a real shot. You can’t give it to someone who fails to muster a win in 5. Despite the known weaknesses of the players, we’ve had enough to win games this season. The football has improved (not difficult) and in theory he’ll have the benefit of the ‘new manager bounce’.
I guess you could look back to Wilders start (from memory not amazing) and bringing a new face in will involve writing some bigger cheques.
High pressure week ahead, assuming Brady wants it. He covered it yesterday but we’ve got to find that balance of playing sensibly if ahead, which hopefully doesn’t involve parking the bus as we know how that ends up.

True, but then all the more reason not to change simply to get more of the same?

If Sutton continue their good form Matt Gray will be managing in the efl next season. They are now only 4 points behind Torquay with 3 games in hand. A long way to go but he appears to be doing a very good job there.
Cheltenham manager Duff now being linked to the Bristol Rovers job.

It’s a difficult one and I can see arguments for both sides TBH, I really hope Brady turns in two good RESULTS this week and we keep him until the end of the season.
I have a feeling KT is sounding the manger market and will appoint it JB fails this week.

Can’t help but disagree as your support for apparent improvement appears to be based on theoretical assumptions. However admirable these assumptions are they fly against those who propose ‘we have to start winning’  preferably ASAP.  This is almost certainly the Clubs view of the current situation.
I will be very sad if results go against Brady as his improved performances nearly secured a victory against MK with goals too! However I find it difficult to believe that Curle would have lost that game; introducing defensive players and ‘shut up shop’. All very unpopular but can be effective.

After sacking KC, honestly can't see KT shelling out any compo on a manager, who's currently employed elsewhere.

If this was the case and he had a specific target in mind, surely he would have made sure he was going to get said target, before firing KC.

Not sure what contract Grey is on but Duff is contracted til Summer 2023...

As for Wilkin / David Oldfield, then no idea how thier contacts work as their seasons have been declared null & void.

We certainly need some sort of update from KT regarding the whole managerial situation sooner rather than later

Why are people just happy with playing nice football?

I think his remit was to steady the ship, take the training & oversee tactics. What he needs is a win or two to prove his methods! So far he has had two defeats one draw . On the face of it not too good!

Does anyone truly believe KT cares what division we're in, as long as we're a going concern somewhere in the EFL. OK, we're more saleable as a Championship side but that's never happening.

L1 or L2, I don't think he cares

I think it is problem only a few wins will cure !

I take your point that under KC we may have defended the lead better, but would we have had a lead to defend? I very much doubt it. Please remember we'd only scored once in six or seven games when KC left. JB is trying to get us to score goals and inevitably we'll let in more too. But we weren't going to survive with a couple of 0-0 draws every 5 games, whereas we might if we can win 2 of every five games and get the odd draw. I know which I'd prefer. How many points did KC's "effective" shutting up shop tactics bring us? Not enough, otherwise he'd still be in charge.

The simple truth is this group of players is probably the worst in the division, no manager is going to come in and suddenly get them on a winning run, they don’t have the ability. We have  been very lucky to have the points total we have, there was definitely some very fortunate wins under KC. Playing good football and a few goals is already a massive step forward.

Why have all the odds on the next manager been removed from The Sack Race  ??? This normally happens just before a new manager is announced. Anyone know the reason?

Well, we've done that now (put the ball in the back of the net). Why would Robins be any better than who we've got?

Perhaps we should go back to your hero KC then! I can't believe that you have not seen a massive improvement, even after a very few games. KC's forgotten man (Marshall) seems to be doing OK with a decent manager in charge.

On what basis do you find it difficult to believe that KC would have lost that game? For a start, we would never have gone 3-2 up against MK and KC's teams, from memory, seemed to make a habit of giving away goals in the last few minutes, after boring us to death before that with 85 minutes of rubbish. Oh yes, I remember, he had organised the defence so well. 

Not sure, this group is the worst in the division. I thought we equalled MK as a team and they have been going pretty well.

Because, at the end of the day, it's a form of entertainment. At this moment in time in particular, I'd rather have 90 minutes of actually enjoying myself rather than 90 minutes spent being bored.

Unable to respond but it’s just an opinion!

Mk are underachieving for the players they have, maybe that will change with their current form but yesterday was definitely an off day for them.

I think what we can say with some authority is the players did not have what was needed when being forced to play Curles style of football, but that's not the same thing as them not being good enough or the worst in the division.
Find a way of playing that suits them and brings out the best in them, let them express themselves like Marshall is now doing, motivate them, play them in their best positions and I personally think we will not only survive but we could hold our own in this division.
It would help imo if Mutchell was immediately replaced, and then if we somehow found a decent targetman and fit centrehalf so much the better.

I'd much rather be entertained too.

More than anything I want to win though.

So, nobody has the answer to why all the odds seem to have been removed?

Also, looks like Joey Barton is to be named Bristol Rovers manager after a breakthrough in talks.

I don't think people are JUST happy playing nice football, they are happier than they were.
We've had two problems this season 1. Poor Results  2. Ugly, inept football

We might still have poor results but football that is better to watch, so folks are happier.

I don't mind the 'results are everything' mentality IF it brings results, in our case it didn't so a change had to be made. Brady has been a breath of fresh air so far, so happy punters. He is of course going to need results to keep the job.

Why sack Rob Page then, can’t have been cheap?

Do you remember where Graham Carr...and his players came from?

Doubtful that we had to pay Page a large amount. I was under the impression that the club was obliged to continue paying a sacked manager his monthly wage until such time that he found alternative employment.
Page was sacked on 9th January 2017, in the same month he joined Nottingham Forest in a coaching capacity and on 15th March 2017 was appointed manager of Wales under 21's.
On the other hand JFH was appointed on 4th September 2017, on a 3 year contract, and sacked on 2nd April 2018 when he still had 2 years and 5 months left on his contract. He failed to secure a coaching or managers job during that time and was appointed manager of Burton on Boxing Day 2020.

Good point Cat, I gave this some thought myself. Personally I think football has moved on from those days as emphasised by the signing of Matt Warburton? If you recall 3 players went on to play Prem football (or league one in those days), one internationally. I can’t ever see that happening again, I just think that the scouting network and money involved means less players slip through the net? Take your point though.

All true but my point was if KT doesn’t care what division we are in why bother to sack him at all? Just seems a bit of a contradiction to me?

West Stand OAP i think you are correct in you assumptions, although i think in the case of "...mutual consent" then an agreed amount is paid to end a managers contract early rather than continuing to pay their salary.

I always thought the protocol is to pay around half the amount on the remaining length of the contract giving the person the opportunity to get another job within that time on the understanding it's unlikely to be at the same rate as the contract. Otherwise the sacked manager might as well sit out the remainder of the contract.
There was a strong rumour the Gary Johnson negotiated a large buyout of this contract with Cardoza. Once it was signed and soon after Christmas he walked into the Yeovil job.

Did JFH "sit out the remainder of his contract" or was he actively searching for alternative employment?.

Depends on what the term 'employment' is stipulated in any agreement?
He was working for the TV networks during that time?

Barton is supposedly going Bristol R.

JB needs a win this week - we all accept that .
Just remember where we have come from in a week .
We were probably the worst team in the league, getting out played by our peers around us and failing to even register shots in games .
On top of that , we played the worst football you can wish to imagine .
In a single week , we have become a team that competes with good footballing teams and look like we belong in division 1 .
We have also scored more goals and created more chances than any time in the last season or more .
Players are playing with confidence and even the pitch is on the mend .
That is in a week .
i desperately want them to get a result tomorrow because they damn well deserve it

I couldn’t agree more mate, the change is very notable, I really hope that we get the results we deserve against both Rochdale and Swindle.

This sums up my feelings perfectly.

+1

Good luck JB.

Only one reservation I have is that we still struggle to score goals from open play somewhat.

  +1

I think that that is what the majority want, we hold our collective breaths...  ;)

It’s a difficult problem, with the lack of goals in our attackers, do we bring in more creative players around them to create lots of chances but then leave us completely open like against MK to co conceding goals.
 

Marshall has been in the team thanks to JB; offensively he carries a threat but there is criticism from some on here on his defensive duties particularly after the MK game. Those critical comments are valid but we cannot have it both ways! I just hope JB takes on board the lessons learnt from the MK game. Almost certainly the same type of situation may well reoccur.

The defensive failings were not Marshalls alone, when Kioso bombs forward someone has to cover, either Marshall or one of the central midfielders. Good teams do this automatically but it takes time to develop that understanding, I'm sure JB has them working on that in training.

There is a chance we could have Miller on the left and the rejuvenated Marshall on the right tomorrow night.
We could even have Sheehan back alongside Jones ( although both left sided )
McWilliams and Morris in the middle and take your pick up front .
That is actually a decent side and if the full backs push on , there will be goals at both ends again i think .

There will be with Marshall in goals.

You want him in goal as well?  ;D

I seem to remember that Rochdale outplayed us in the 1-1 draw at their place earlier but with our recent dramatic improvement and increased motivation off the pitch, I am hopeful for tomorrow. However, whatever the result, I would like to think we can persevere with the current set up.

I don't need to panic anymore  ;D. The odds are back up folks! Still don't understand why they disappeared. Did they get wind of an announcement that didn't materialise?

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/league-one-relegation-battlers-appoint-joey-barton-as-new-manager-3142202

So it won’t be Joey then ... thank fcuk for that.

I know there is a rump of opinion on here that journeymen managers are the way forward for NTFC but I beg to disagree.

For an achievable 5 yr plan of Div 1 establishment and regular pushing for promo, I want people running my club that have a genuine commitment to it - not a purchased one.

Which is why i like this quote from JB:
"My three children were born in Northamptonshire so I like to think I'm an adopted Northamptonian and it's the same for Rico and Sammo. It means a lot to us because this is our county.”

He was MOTM in the Chron so why not  8)

Whenever I hear the word w@nker I think of Joey Barton.

Thank fcuk or no thank fcuk, they are safe then!
Come back to me at the end of the season to see where your 'thank fcuks' have got you!

Coincidentally I get a similar effect when I hear the word c***.

I think you're right.

Quite - he will probably save BR. I thought all those who thought that surviving in L1 was paramount now say  that they will chuck up a capable Manager based on some whimsical moral stand point.

I assume the club are simply waiting for us to win a game before announcing Jon Brady?

I never thought BRFC would be down there at the end of the season - with or without Mr Barton.
Yep, I want the Brady Bunch even if it means going down but I honestly believe they can keep us up.

Not really sure what / who you want Evers? You seem to be keeping your cards close to your chest.

Some wise words to stimulate your creative juices ...
“The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom.”
François-Marie Arouet

Page?! Edinburgh?! Austin?! JFH?! Keith Curle?! - when your head starts to hurt just try stop banging it against that brick wall!

That is so true, you get certain people on here that will put the same theory in everything they post seemingly no matter what the topic is, then suddenly others are repeating it as if it’s fact.

I'll start then.
I think Dean Austin and Terry Fenwick would both have turned out to be very good managers for us had they been given more time.
There, done it. Need to repeat every morning though.
Apart from Evers, how many people do we suppose will be accepting of the above by a/ KO b/March c/end of season d/end of pandemic?

Sounds french to me....never trust a Frenchman.
Ha...there's another.
I'm beginning to see what you mean now  ;D

I actually thought that Dean Austin COULD have been a very good manager for us, and anyone who went to Colchester in August 2018 would have to agree, we were superb, one of the best Cobblers performances since Wilder. But something, obviously went on in the dressing room soon after as the players just stopped playing for him and the rest is history.

People in Hartlepool aren’t that keen on the French either.

 ;D Any chance of clarification please?  8)

I think calling them "a bunch of arseholes" or whatever it was in one of his post match interviews probably didn't help on that score...

The players didn’t have a leg to stand on if it went to a discrimination tribunal.

Maybe you should have used his pen name of Voltaire who was great Liberal thinker! Are you a follower of Voltaire?

Paul Cook for me

With KC I personally did not join in the personal abuse thrown at him. I liked his tactics in getting us promotion which was widely supported on this forum but questioned his style of play in L1 especially when he did not have suitable players to perform the system. Because I did not jump on the bandwagon of vitriolic comment does not mean I was an absolute supporter of KC. In fact after the Crewe(a) game it was obvious he was struggling. With a depleted side he has more or less kept us out of the relegation zone. Most of us realised that L1 would be difficult and so it has proved

Along with most on here I hope JB does well in the next two games; well enough to get the job for the rest of the season. I also firmly believe we should make every effort to remain in L1 and share JB’s views on this in yesterday’s Chronicle.

That's if he wants the job  ;)

IF we go to external recruitment it just HAS to be Paul Cook so I concur Evers old chum.

No chance of Paul Cook. He turned down Cardiff. Hes waiting for a large championship side at worst.

Money talks..........

Start at 20k per week

;D ;D Love it.

Short term Contract might entice him - to get a job you need a job goes an old saying!  If he does well here the world is his oyster😏

It only ever says goodbye to me!

There's another for the quotation collection!  ;)

I would think the opposite, at the moment he has a good standing, why manage a club with a very high chance of relegation and possibly have that on your record. In terms of reputation it seems husk risk for little gain as even if he kept us up I don’t that that monumental achievement would get the recognition it deserved.

Judging by his interviews he really wants the job. However, I think tonight might be his last chance

The fact that you think he will save BR doesn't mean he will. He might, he might not. My opinion that JB may be a better option than Barton is not 'a whimsical moral stand point' that you feel obliged to imprint on every other supporter. I would like to feel free to have my own reasons for having an opinion and not be forced to have my every thought controlled by the 'thought police'.

I went to this game and I agree with you. Lots of sun and a bit of rain.

He's never been asked, why? I suppose we'll find out soon.

Sorry Evers, I referenced you because Jim Hall also did.
Can't speak for Mr Hall but I'm very appreciative of Voltaire, have you read him, I imagine you have.
Have we seen a finer empirical polemicist?

I was there too. New ground for me.
I think what he said what he did about the players after the Mansfield game when it already over for him?

I liked what Brady has tried but he’s falling short. We need goals and he leaves a proven goalscorer on the bench until the last 5 mins. Having faith in Edmundson is a big mistake

Any more thoughts from anyone? Are we now in the situation where only an old experienced head will do, the sort of manager who you bring in to try and avoid relegation...a bit like when we got Curle in?

Can't see the likes of Brady, Matt Gray, Kevin Wilkin et al being entrusted with the current situation.

So who does that leave?? There's not a lot out there to be honest......

I think proven goal scorer is a bit generous! Rose has 4 goals in about 24 games. This season our attacking options are woeful, having  said that I’d rather have Rose above Edmondson every time.

New broom needed before the weekend.

Playing for a draw in a must win game tonight, next.

That’s my point really, RE just doesn’t have that instinct. I would definitely have got Rose on earlier even if he played two up top... we (he) needed a win

It gets stranger the more you think of it. A win tonight and Brady would have got a full time post.

We were poor, he waiting till the 87th minute to bring our biggest threat on, he played for a draw, there was no urgency or hunger in the last 30 minutes to impose ourselves.

Sounds like he wants the job. Big decision for KT coming up, get in wrong and we go down, get it right and who knows. I don't think he can wait much longer though.

He can't keep putting it off. He needs to act by Saturday. Whoever he picks.

(If he cares)

Yep, but he is sitting on his backside. If he does wonders here some big Championship Club may come knocking as it wont be a Premier Club. Perhaps a Club like Hull or Ipswich might entice him. If successful at NTFC then he maybe be a very marketable Manager. Great Managers get a job and don't just loaf around. IMO of course 8)

Said it after the Burton game and will say it again. KT needs to get an experienced manager in and quickly. Overall the performances have improved but not enough to warrant giving Brady the job full time in my opinion. With only 2 points from 4 games it’s time to say thank you to the Brady Bunch for holding the fort and get someone else in.

Cook turned down the Cardiff job last month as he was only offered a 6 month short term contract and he wanted something longer term. On that basis alone why would he choose to come to us on presumably less money than Cardiff offered him on a similar short term deal?

Much as I would like to see him here I don't think there's any chance.....

I agree, no chance.

I thinks it’s safe enough to say definitely massively less money than Cardiff offered

The sort of money that ended up tempting Mick McCarthy to take the job on the same short term basis that Cook was offered.

KT said in his post Curle sacking interview that he, Bower & Whiting would go through all the manager applications last week...

Brady said he's heard nowt from KT regarding his position & expects to prepare for the Swindon game...

KT really needs to update supporters (and Brady) as to what's happening one way or another, sooner rather than later especially as the season ticket renewal emails will soon be dropping into our inboxes

Personally, can't see anyone else getting a better tune out of the squad Curle assembled, so I'd offer it to Brady til end of season with an automatic extension if he somehow keeps this squad up.

There's a certain ex Celtic manager now available, same level isn't it? :P  8)

I suspect Terry Fenwick could manage Celtic to a top two finish every season amongst that shower of shìte north of the border!  ;D

An experienced manager got us into this mess in the first place :)

Does that mean we should rule out all experienced managers then?  ???

I think we should go for the best person for the job, not base our selection on the level of experience.

Ok, and in my opinion someone with experience would be better for the current job than someone without  :)

How is ANY manager going to get the strikers that we have to score goals ? At least under Brady we are creating chances which we failed to do under our previous, experienced, manager. Also the reason we have these duff strikers is down to that experienced managers recruitment.
     Yes, the second half last night was poor but it was a hard, bouncy pitch with a gail blowing and don't forget that we had loads of halfs a lot worse than that under our previous, experienced manager, with no chances created let alone missed.
 In my opinion Brady has made a great improvement in a very short time, also we have had very little time on the training ground with Sat- Tues - Sat games, so I'm prepared to cut him a bit of slack.

"How is ANY manager going to get the strikers that we have to score goals ? At least under Brady we are creating chances which we failed to do under our previous, experienced, manager. Also the reason we have these duff strikers is down to that experienced managers recruitment.
     Yes, the second half last night was poor but it was a hard, bouncy pitch with a gail blowing and don't forget that we had loads of halfs a lot worse than that under our previous, experienced manager, with no chances created let alone missed.
 In my opinion Brady has made a great improvement in a very short time, also we have had very little time on the training ground with Sat- Tues - Sat games, so I'm prepared to cut him a bit of slack."

Exactly

This is the issue though isn’t, the only options available are someone inexperienced either in time as a manager or at this level, or an experienced manager who has ultimately failed somewhere else at somepoint (they may also have achieved too, although Curle  hadn’t!)

Funny the bottom 3 in the prem have one of each of those types of manager!

As much I love the discussions, suggestions and rumours and constantly checking the new manager odds. I am resigned to the fact it will Brady until end of the season when we will be relegated and then bring in someone new. Albeit playing ‘nicer football than under Curle’

I hope I am wrong though.

I can imagine Burton fans would have been saying a similar thing before JFH came in. They’ve now won 4 of their last 7 games, they’re the in-form team down the bottom and have a decent run of fixtures coming up. This situation is not irretrievable. I don’t buy into the idea that there is no one out there who can turn this around. It has been done many times before and will be done many times in the future. I appreciate there has been some improvement, but it needs to translate into points and quickly. I know it’s early but I’m starting to get Dean Austin vibes where we played better football but ultimately didn’t get the results. The novelty of a new more attractive style of play will wear off very quickly if it doesn’t translate into points/wins.

As I have said before, I have nothing against Brady and I do like the way he wants us to play. I am just not convinced he is the right man at this time. Happy to be proven wrong though. In any event, I don’t think the uncertainty of having a caretaker manager for too long is good for the team, particularly in this situation. So KT needs to make a decision after Swindon in my opinion. Regardless of whether it is to be Brady until the end of the season or an external, KT needs to act very soon.

I am intrigued to hear which manager we could realistically bring in that would keep us up with our current crop of players?

Acting quickly is not one of KTs strengths  ;D
The attitude of some of our supporters is shocking, we’re Sh1t, we’ve always been sh1t, no one will buy us, no one any good will manage us etc etc, Jesus wept what are these people’s lives like?
GET A GRIP we can attract a decent manager, we can turn this around, Thomas will fcuk off and we can attract an investor that is actually interested in the club.

+1

Brady now odds on

Not biting  8)

No one knows for sure do they, it’s a guess.  Guardiola might not keep us up.  Holloway could come in and keep us up.

To be honest we may have stayed up under a Curle, we weren’t and arent adrift.  We are poor but so are 7 other teams.

Just to clarify, cannot stand Curle, didn’t want him, didn’t like him, football was dire, interviews were both arrogant and farcical and glad he has gone.

Like others have said, I have nothing against Brady, comes across well. Slight improvement in style.

But I do think it’s rose tinted because he comes from within.  Give him a chance, but then we get 2 pts in 4 games and now it’s the players and no one can keep us up.

The answer is just do something now and stick by it. Announce Brady or announce someone else and then just live by the decision.

If we were 15 points adrift or sitting in 12th it would be a no brainer.  But being 2pts from Safety we shouldn’t just be seeing what happens.

Just fcuking wait Kelvin’s only on the 12th !

Agree with a lot of this. I really don’t understand the ‘who out there could keep us up’ line that some fans keep stating. No manager you appoint is ever going to be a guaranteed success, but this idea of literally no one can save us is ridiculous.

The difference is Burton have Lucas Akins, Kane Hemmings, Josh Parker and  Luke Varney, all proven strikers at this level or above, we have no one with this pedigree. Burton also have a squad of 38 players !!

I do wonder how thoroughly KT, Bower & Whiting have been going through the applications/made any approaches to under contract managers...

Can ntfclad give us any indication as to what's going on behind the scenes?

+

+ 1  ;)

I agree, they should get on with it and announce Brady as permanent.

Btw, I would add that I think there is no way that Curle was going to turn the tide and keep them up. Also, did you follow Holloway's recent spell at Grimsby? That would be a shocker of an appointment.

I really feel that under Brady the chances we are making each game will eventually convert to goals. Underperforming on xG metrics hardly ever continues for more than 10-15 games. We have been the better side in the last 3 games and had better chances to win than Ipswich, MK and Rochdale. Yes, we might not stay up - which would be the failing of Curle, not Brady - but I'm confident Brady would put us in a position to return the following season.

I really cannot see that there are better, realistic options available to us. Paul Cook and the Cowleys cannot be considered as realistic. Who does that leave us with?

None of those strikers you mention have even scored since JFH joined except Hemmings, who has scored one goal which was in a 5-1 loss in JFH’s first game.

Their main problem was that they couldn’t defend. They’ve conceded more goals than nearly anyone else. Hasselbaink came in and they’ve kept three clean sheets in 7 games after not keeping a single clean sheet in the league all season. I wouldn’t say there’s much pedigree in the defence either. In fact, three of the back 4 that started for them yesterday have little pedigree at all. Managers can come in and get more out of players that previous managers couldn’t. Happens all the time and there’s no reason it couldn’t happen with us.

Got a couple of nibbles though.... 8) ;D ;D

They'll have done f*** all because they are waiting for Brady to win a game then will announce him. Cheapest option.

The addition of 12 new players more than the 'experience ' of hasselbaink id guess is the difference

I wasn’t suggesting Holloway, it was just insert any manager who has recently failed badly in the lower league, to make a point.

Who signed those players?

I honestly don’t remember a time when we’ve been looking for a new manager and there have been so few possible candidates suggestions on here.

I never specifically said that! Enough Voltaire too much comedy!

👏👍

Went with the Trust on this one very hot day. That bit was correct ;D. Played ok first half but faded second half. Can remember some supporters being unhappy with result! It’s all about opinions is it not?

At the time JFH signed the 12 players we , also had a very experienced manager, so why didn't he sign those players, after all he had much more experience than JFH, so by your reckoning he must be a much better manager ?

I’m not sure what your point is here. Brady is inexperienced having never managed in the football league. As I have stated numerous times, I personally don’t think that is the way to go in this situation. I’ll leave you to continue debating who is better between KC and JFH with someone else as I’m not sure how it changes the fact Brady has no experience of managing anywhere near this level.

There is a lot of talk about some managers being good and others bad but that is far to simplistic. A manager might be a success at some clubs yet abject failure at others (Gary Johnson springs to mind). Then look at someone like Chris Wilder, pretty much nothing but success, has a bit of money to spend on players over the summer and Sheffield United are woeful this season. People might want to think it’s a calculated process but however much due diligence you do when it comes down to it choosing a new manager is pretty much a crapshoot.

We all know that Brady has no experience at this level, the point I'm making is that KC had loads of experience but was not getting as much out of the squad as Brady. Yes we all know the results need to improve but just getting an "experienced manager" doesn't always mean they will. It's been pointed out that virtually all of the "experienced" managers that have any sort of track record would be out of our league, so do you really want to give the likes of Holloway, Sheridan and any other of their like another pension boost, because that's all NTFC is to these people, Curle included, they have no attachment what so ever, just looking for a payday.

I’ve never once said that an experienced manager will guarantee success. I’m saying that in my view an experienced manager is what we need right now as opposed to Brady who has no experience near this level. Am I not allowed to hold that view?  ???

+ 1 100%

Brady has with him , 2 players with years of experience at this level, do you think they have no input, i doubt an experienced manager would get much anymore out of this current bunch, as i dare say hasselbaink most probably wouldnt have got anymore out of the squad he  had when he arrived , he was lucky to get the transfer window, which neither Brady had or an experienced manager will get

Of course you are allowed to hold a view, even when it's wrong !  ;D  Seriously, we will never know, which ever way it goes

Of course you have a view; not quite sure what the others have too prove other than their is correct ::)

I understand what you’re saying but I’ve heard it all before. Dean Austin (a man who probably knows far more about the game than any of us on here) said that there wasn’t anyone who could come in and get more out of the players he had at the time. KC came in and did exactly that before he’d even got to the January window. It has happened in the past and will happen again in the future. There’s been so many occasions where a team has been struggling all season, appointed a new manager around this time and then stayed up. In those instances those managers didn’t have a window but they were able to get more out of the squads they inherited. Even when CW left Oxford to join us he hardly got a window but he still managed to get more out of what he’d inherited.

Hasn't Brady proved your hypothesis over the last few games ? Appoint him.

Additional factors;

Cash - Brady will be cheaper than the options you would find acceptable. We all must have noticed how tight the purse springs have been pulled.

Brady already knows the players (has already ruffled feathers) and is implementing his game plan. Anyone new will have to learn and develop his own plans.

Spot on.

Managers are sacked because owners/chairman think there will be an improvement from a previous regime. Otherwise they would all stay in their jobs and carry on regardless.

I'm slightly surprised people are happy for Brady to be given the job. Have performances improved - probably. Have results improved - certainly not. KT clearly feels the same or he would have appointed him by now.

Not quite. Overall performances have been improved but still only 2 points from 4 games and let’s face it, we’ve only played well in two of those games. I am by no means saying it is impossible for Brady to succeed but I personally haven’t seen enough improvement to suggest that he should be given the job full time. I can see the reasons for appointing Brady and I wouldn’t be distraught if we did appoint him. However I personally don’t think we should go down that route. MK Dons performance was encouraging in terms of attack but we still lost and shipped 4 goals. Yesterday was poor, as was Burton. Brady needs a win and fast. Encouraging performances but few points to show for it won’t be enough I’m afraid. But like I said before, either way we need clarity very soon.

Exactly this. Think as someone else mentioned, there is a rose tinted view of the Brady Bunch for some. I’m surprised at how many are calling for him to get the job after just 2 points from 4 matches.

Yeah and then if it's 2 points from 5 or 6 matches the same people will be calling for his head  ::) 

I definitely won't. This squad is lower League 2 class at best. It will require something startling to change our results but given we are now creating opportunities perhaps Brady's nurturing of Edmondson might suddenly pay dividends. A brace of goals for him and a win against Swindon and you never know.

You wouldn’t think it would be this hard to come up with a clear plan for the way forward would you? From where I’m sitting 3 or 4 weeks ago nearly everyone professed to have the answer, get rid of Curle problem solved? Between us no one has put forward a convincing argument for anyone or anything since? Other than KT is supposed to be able to answer the question no one else seems to be able to answer themselves with any conviction that is, what a mess? This has got poor decision making based on finger in the air subjective and impulsive thinking all over it, no wonder we are in the sh1t? That goes for the owners right through to just about everyone on this forum? Virtually everyone was clamouring for the removal of Curle and are now completely clueless regarding any sort of cohesive plan or recruitment target to move us forward? Seemingly the only external candidate of note is Paul Cook, a bloke who by all accounts either isn’t remotely interested and/or affordable? If KT has been so poor over this (which he has) and if all these people that have been so critical over the last few months are so correct, where’s the innovative thinking now? Like I said all along (yes this is an I told you so moment) getting rid of people is the easy bit. Who and what comes next and most importantly why is the main challenge? Listen to me and you won’t go far wrong? Brady for me, don’t blow money on an unconvincing candidate and compound the error by chucking more money down the drain when you can least afford it? Take the pressure off the guy and give him time and it may be the best decision after all? In the event it is, please disregard this entire post, apart from the last bit?

There are little snippets coming from Brady......Ashley-Seal being dropped and told he has to work harder, training ground work with Edmondson, and today working with Hoskins on the need for him to be more efficient and effective working in wide areas.

This stuff isn't going to bring improvements overnight. How much "individual" training do we guess Curle and co put in with the players?

The more I hear from Brady though the more I feel "Head Coach" rather than Manager.......perhaps that is the route we go down and start looking for a Director of Football to take care of the other stuff?

It’s not going to be Brady, otherwise he would have been made permanent by now.

Colchester, beaten in last years playoff semi finals last night sacked their manager after a run of one win in 13 games. Today the chairman came out and promoted the assistant manager to the interim head coach position and said he's going to give him a run of games over the next few weeks and see where they are, he also said he's not looking for applicants for the permanent job at this time.

Refreshing for a chairman to come out and say what's what, and also give the new man time to bed in and make his mark before a decision is made and let that fact be known, rather than everyone be in limbo like we seemingly are.  

https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/ex-town-star-wayne-brown-named-colchester-boss-7789748

Dean Austin got 7 points from 5 games during his caretaker stint when we got relegated from League One.

John Brady so far has 2 points from 4 games. (If we win against Swindon it will be 5 from 5.)

I personally think KT has been wise to keep a watching brief for now. Brady hasn't done enough to either rule himself in or rule himself out yet. The style of play has undoubtedly improved and players like Watson and Marshall are enjoying some new found freedom after being shackled by Curle. The interviews are impressive and there are promising signs of tough man-management and merit-based selection policies. However, I recall people saying very similar things about Austin when he took over from JFH despite the fact that the Walsall game in particular exposed some worrying tactical naivety which would rear its head with a vengeance in League Two the following season.

What worried me the most against Rochdale was the unwillingness to change the 4-3-3 system when we were being dominated and were desperate for a goal in the second half. That smacks of tactical inflexibility.

I would give Brady the next two games: Swindon and Plymouth. By then we will have pretty conclusive evidence about his capacity to coax goals out of this team and to grind out 'game-managed' wins at this level. I would suggest that anything less than 3 points from those two games would mean a pretty urgent change would be needed. 3 points and above would give him more time, but I would still be a good idea to give him a bit more time to prove he has made sustained improvements.

I can’t believe regardless of what some are saying now that Brady will get a ‘free pass’ to the end of the season if results don’t pick up. There’s a long time between now and then and saying he’s inherited Curle’s squad will soon wear thin. Managers take on struggling squads all the time and I’m sure Brady believes he can turn things around or he wouldn’t have touched the position with a barge pole.
I’d like to see some examples of an interim taking charge with 20 games to go from a similar position, getting relegated and getting/keeping a full time role. There won’t be many, if any.

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/brady-insists-cobblers-are-making-clear-progress-and-results-will-start-to-turn-3145561
Sounds like he's been told that he's here until the end of the season? ;)

It's all IF's and buts though isn't it?
We don't know IF Paul Cook would be interested in joining us
We don't know IF we could afford him.
We don't know IF KT has approached him.

Dean Austin had 5 games to keep us up, IF he'd 10 would he have succeeded? Would JFH have had the chop sooner IF he hadn't been involved in all the Walter Tull tributes?
IF we had won the first game of the next season against Lincoln by 4 or 5 deserved goals would we have gone up instead of them?

IF we had brought in a manager instead of JB would we have any more points than we do now?
IF all our shots against the woodwork during JB's tenure had gone in would he now be a hero?

Personally I would give JB another 5 games as long as the points gap to safety doesn't grow.

IF and when KT does appoint another manager I think I disagree with his philosophy of not interfering with the football side and style of play. I think it is good IF the manager is told what style of football is required, create an identity.
 

He needs a win though

Would be nice, but it didn't stipulate that as a requirement.

Of course he is, doesn't cost us anything does it.

So it looks like we’re split into 3 camps:
1) The Brady bunch
2) Paul cook
3) Don’t have a clue but I’ll moan and criticise whatever

The elephant in the room is the KC legacy of Fcuking up 2 transfer windows and leaving us strikerless.
This isn’t going to be solved by anyone until the next window so ....
Let’s just all relax and support KTs decision - whatever it is.

I’m in the Brady bunch camp but whoever is appointed gets my support and my 2021/22 Season ticket money.

Or

4) Just don't know

I personally would stick with Jon Brady and his team, as bringing in a new manager doesn't guarantee anything.

From what I can understand from above it was a mistake to sack Curle? Given the last 2/3 (Curle) games the clamour for his  removal was such that KT bowed to the pressure to remove him; to do so was unavoidable? In your early messages on KC you suggested that it would be a mistake to sack Curle? Given that you gave some plausible reasons for not doing so based on that I upheld your view. From what I can gather you now appear to still subscribe to that view? You summarise by saying we are now in a mess and appear to have no alternative but to go with JB? Please correct any misguided interpretation!

I am genuinely confused by the people who were very vocal about wanting KC sacked but are also now asking who is out there to turn things around. So many wanted him gone but now have no idea of which realistic target they would want.

Doesnt matter who's in charge if we cant beat Wigan, Dale or Burton we're down.
Need to be concentrating on coming back to League 1 up next season.

Can we have a repeat of the 4-0 at Wembley so that we can all attend this time?  8)

You the same as everyone else dont know what a realistic target is , what wages are we going to pay , are we going to pay off another club. some including me though Curle was taking us down , i believe Brady can keep us up .

Bit of an anomaly Evers because my preference was for financial stability. That was spend nothing and take the pressure off Curle by guaranteeing his job this season irrespective of results. However, whilst that was my view originally things have panned out slightly differently due to the bale out etc which perhaps makes that view more questionable in hindsight? It also must be said that many people have brought season tickets and the like, and as a result they are perfectly entitled to demand different standards from the financial one that I prioritised. Therefore whilst I had a firm opinion about the route I would have taken I am quite reluctant to be too critical of people for having an alternative view because it has to be said that each option comes with a risk attached?

I wasn’t shouting for KC to be sacked. If you read my comment I was referring to people who were very vocal about wanting Curle out.

Could you please explain what evidence you have for this conclusion?

4 reasons why I'm so glad KC was sacked.
1. The football has been terrible since he was appointed.
2. He didn't bring in the right personnel during the transfer windows.
3. We were heading for definite relegation.
4. His interviews were nonsensical and diabolical.

4 reasons why Brady should continue.
1. The football is much improved.
2. He hasn't had any opportunity to bring in any new players.
3. We are still in great danger but there is at last some hope.
4. his interviews are like a breath of fresh air.

Let's just forget (please KT) getting in another manager. Give Brady the job and let's get behind the team, the management and everyone else associated with NTFC.

Great post - I agree with all of your points

+1

Yup.

Lots of support for Brady on here, I too would like things to go well for him.

However, the facts are from 4 games in charge we've only mustered 2 points and scored 3 goals in a game we ended up losing. He certainly talks a good game, some may say foolish. After Tuesdays game he said "With the help of our staff and the players we've got, WE WILL STAY IN LEAGUE ONE, whether it's me or someone else."

Hopefully it will turn out well and his supporters on here will have no excuse to turn on him in the coming weeks. We shall see.

       

My opinion is that under KC we would have been relegated and if he was still manager the sale of ST for next season would have been catastrophic, under Brady we still might go down, the bookies think we will, but at least we get a little bit of entertainment.
     I don't think KT had a choice really, he could see that if he wanted to sell any amount of ST, Curle had to go.
Personally, I would have had serious reservations about renewing if Curle was still in charge, now he's gone I'm 90% sure I'll renew.

Nothing to be confused about at all. Curle should have been binned months ago. Our Chairman said the following day that he had already had plenty of applications so seemingly there are plenty of realistic targets. I’d confidently say that the majority who will have applied will be more competed that Keith proved to be this season.

I’d be going all out for Mike Duff, Flynn at Newport or Gray / Challinor from the conference and all would be “realistic”.

So you say that you are glad that an NTFC manager has been sacked without a great deal of thought for his personal circumstances. I personally got a lot of pleasure when KC he started to propel us up the League and actually gaining promotion on the last game. All against the odds too. Takes all types I suppose ::)

Quite frankly, I'm a little sick of hearing about KC's 'personal circumstances'!
'Great guy, very personable, blah blah...'

He talked utter s***e about 'fundementals, basics...' with far far less tangible and tactical language that fans could relate to, compared with Jon Brady.
Despite his protestations and apportioning blame to all but himself for the players not 'doing the basics' whatever that means, he masterminded the most negative, turgid, one dimensional football ever witnessed by many of us, as well as being viewed by opposition fans as the worst team in our division, capable of (poor) hoof football...the performance at Sincil Bank aside!
Little sympathy...should have happened back in December!

The evidence that Curle should be sacked was there for all to see
The evidence in favour of Brady is much improved football, more attacking producing more efforts on goal
This in turn i believe will turn into wins/
Players are behind him some openly wanting him to have the job
Its clear that the players prefer to play without the shackles of Curles defensive football
Im not a fan of bringing in 'an experienced manager ' just beacause. Gary Johnsons CV was marvellous before he came here
and finally , why not Brady, where do all managers start ?

Dont sit on the fence  ;D totally agree

Players will always say they want the current manager or caretaker to have the job because they want a place in the team. They're not stupid. Did any players criticise Keith Curle?? No.

As for Brady, you do know he's managed before? 306 games at Brackley Town between March 2009 and September 2015. So you could say he's one of your 'experienced managers'.   

Sorry to say that we won't be getting Michael Appleton as he has just signed a 4 year contract extension at Lincoln. Imagine the comments on here if we gave a manager a 4 year contract as most think we should only give 12 month rolling contracts.

 about KC's 'personal circumstances'!  - by this I mean wife, family, dependents mortgage etc. Would you wish to be in that situation yourself? Can understand where you are coming on Curle's personal attributes (?) including his much maligned match summaries. If I am going to remember the man; not by his personal failings(for some) but for the way he guided us to safety in L2,the FA Cup, what he did for Charlie Goode, unexpected promotion with two great victories. I just prefer to remember him that way 8)

'So you say' (you always do have a comment to make that contradicts my posts) that you would never have an opinion about why you think one manager should replace another, no matter who or for which club, as it might affect their personal situation. I think a number of people on here have indicated that the reasons I stated for wanting the switch are reasonable. You, of course, have to suggest that the post should never have been made. Why don't you consider my personal circumstances when you say such harsh words about me?  :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
I might take the comments of one person so harshly that I (a) beat the wife (b) take to drink (c) push the cat out of the kitchen, or (d) spend my entire life kicking your comments back into the gutter where they belong. Guess which option I prefer.

Unable to trade insults but all I was saying that losing your job is not ideal for any person. Its just my opinion that's all!

Hang on a minute....when we sack a manager we always end up paying them for many months/years until their contract would have run out......so Curle has been sacked....i'd imagine and indeed expect he is still getting paid his full salary, still being able to pay his mortgage, spending more time with his wife, family and dependants etc......

I don't know what i'm supposed to be feeling sympathy for at the moment......

Ricky Holmes as near to could be in public...and look what happened then!

Well I don't know Curles personal circumstances or the kind of deal he has with KC.  What I suspect is that it may have been a shock to him that he lost his job. As mentioned previously I prefer to remember KC for some good moments he gave us. Seems churlish to think otherwise? How about David Martindale for Manager should get the purists going ;D

Curle, KC, KT...peas in a pod, it seems!  ;D

Nothing against KC as a person but you talk some sh ite... If he is worried about a mortgage after the career he's had then he's as good at managing money as he is a football team.

I am grateful for those two games but come on, they weren't the norm, far from it. This season has been an unmitigated disaster from recruitment to tactics. I know we always yoyo when we go up but jeez, this has to be the worst post promotion season ever...

My confusion is some were very vocal about wanting KC sacked but believe there is no one out there who can turn things around. If that was the case we may as well have just kept him until the end of the season. There are some on here who don’t believe any of your suggestions would be able to get anything more out of the players. Nor do they think any of the applicants (which you believe will be more competent than Curle), can get anything more out of the squad. So respectfully, I think there is something to be confused about there.

I must admit I don’t really subscribe to the sympathy or loyalty card as far as managers go? Firstly the terms and conditions that go with the territory are about as obvious as you can get for any job role. As a result there is not a manager out there that doesn’t know what the consequences are regarding poor performances/results. Therefore if you are not prepared to accept that then don’t do the job in the first place? Secondly if the shoe was on the other foot and following a promotion a manager was to get an offer of a job at a bigger club higher up the leagues, the vast majority are off like a shot without so much as a by your leave or thank you. Loyalty works both ways and in this game there is precious little of it from both sides. I wouldn’t lose too much sleep fretting over it personally? In summary if job security is important to you, football management is perhaps not the ideal career choice?

For many of the reasons mentioned I too would love Brady to succeed with us, especially as he is undoubtedly NTFC through and through, it would also be extra satisfying if it is with his current team of Sammo and Marc.

I would actually take relegation to see them build a team as I think it would be one of the most entertaining sides we have seen, sort of a poundland Leeds!

Or maybe its too late?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56201308

Much like everyone else, I'd like to see Brady make a good fist of things. But he absolutely needs to start picking up results, and even if he manages four points from the next two games I'd still only hand him the job until the end of the season. Then see how things are going.

As an aside, if things don't go well over the next few weeks and a change needs to be made, then I'd take a punt on David Oldfield.

Already spoken to.

Good post Bruce

Any idea how those talks went Manny?

Your last sentence says it all Melly! Even though Football is an unforgiving business, footballers are at the mercy of the whims of Clubs and Supporters particularly young footballers it would seem. To me any person who loses their main source of income through an unsympathetic process it must be a debilitating experience. I mean how would you feel?

Really?

I actually have less sympathy for those who establish themselves in the game and then, at some point, get fired - mainly because it is a lucrative living for those who apply themselves correctly and invest wisely. The main issue I have is with the young age that clubs take on kids and then fill the heads of those who show promise. I know a youngster who joined a prem club when he was nine, and after repeatedly being told how exceptional he was, was then released at the age of fifteen. It caused him all sorts of issues including major bouts of depression. Now, as much as I like his parents, I do think they should have wound in all the talk of what his future held: they are not without blame for the way things went.
But I still think a lot of these kids have too much expectation in their hearts, at a time when they should just be enjoying playing.

Surely we are due some sort of update regarding the managerial situation from KT ain't we?

If it ain't gonna be Brady then just get on with appointing someone else, if it is then just announce Brady...he'll have the majority of the fans backing

What happens if we lose or just get a point or two from the next few games?...becomes even harder for someone new to come in as we are more than likely going to be even more adrift by then...club will then be in the embarrassing situation of announcing Brady when we still haven't won a game...

GIVE US AN UPDATE KT FFS!

We need a decision whatever happens Saturday. The next six fixtures look tough to me so focus should all be on the team not who the next manager might be. They need to make the call soon so everybody can cracking on retaining our League 1 standing.

Plymouth (H)  :'(
Portsmouth (H)  :'(
Charlton (A)  :'(
Doncaster (A)  :'(
Crewe (H)  :'(
Oxford (H)  8)

I don’t mate, but I like the way he sets his team up and his post match interviews are very clear, concise and at the same time respectful to the opposition.
For me he’s coming from a little too far down the ladder and definitely lacks experience, one for the future.

He can’t hear you he’s on the tricky dog leg 17th.

He’s probably waiting to get decent odds on the man he intends to appoint.

There is nothing over here from the Oxford City side to suggest that David Oldfield has been approached by NTFC.
I know a few City fans who work directly with the club!

I think he may have kept it to himself.

There was a word used in another post Evers, expectation, as an individual about to embark on a football management career you need to manage your expectations? It is a ruthless and brutal industry, and before you embark on it as a career you must be completely realistic and accepting of the conditions of employment? One thing has intrigued me regarding this subject. Many high profile sporting figures have suffered with mental health issues as a result of the huge pressures they are under? Despite this I am not aware of any managers who have suffered with the same issues? Given the aforementioned ruthless and brutal nature of the industry and the enormous pressure managers are under I have no idea why? Could it be that they are generally more mature and are totally aware of the conditions they are to face? One thing I do know, to answer your question I would feel devastated. I simply do not have the mental fortitude to deal with the continual day to day pressures of football management and it is beyond me how people cope?

The sort of people who want to be football team managers tend to be ultra competitive personalities who thrive on competition. They love the day to day aggro. Don't forget they tend to have their own team around them for moral support. Why do you think the (presumably very well off) likes of Allardyce, Pulis, Warnock, Hodgson, McCarthy etc find it impossible to let go.

If you think football management is tough what about the poor old referees ?

Don't a substantial proportion of those mental health issues arise when those person's skills fade and they have nothing/little to replace them with ?

Then how on Earth would you know???

Still amazed by the complete lack of possible candidates suggested.

Gary Speed springs to mind. He was a guest on Football Focus the day before he died. It still haunts me, because the programme finished and I said to my missus about there being something wrong with Gary Speed. His body language and how uncomfortable he seemed, it was just off. Tragic waste of a young life.

Here goes then:

Sol Campbell, Danny Cowley, Paul Tisdale, Stephen Robinson, Gary Caldwell, John Eustace and others. Plus up and coming non-league managers - Matt Gray, Kevin Wilkin, David Oldfield, Danny Searle.

Would you like anymore?  ;D

Ipswich lining up a move for Paul Cook if their takeover goes through apparently. Don’t think he was ever a realistic target anyway though.

How many of those do you think would go down well with supporters?

He was not

The only one there I categorically wouldn't want is Sol Campbell, because he's a complete tosser.

Edit: I'd have liked to have used something stronger than "complete tosser" but realised the site would star the word out and someone might think it was a racial epithet. Given his apparent view of our supporters I wouldn't want to add fuel to the fire...

Agree.

I find c**t covers all bases!
Be careful though, not only does Sol have the greatest mind in football, he is a POC...and might have a mortgage too!  ;)

I don't know to answer your question. I wouldn't mind Cowley, Tisdale was sought after when at Exeter but has gone pear shaped recently. The non league managers would be interesting to see how they get on. A couple of current coaches, Paul Heckingbottom at Sheffield United or John Eustace at QPR could also be an option.

Had to log on just to agree with this.

That was the word I was thinking of, to be fair.  ;D

Cowley has the issue with style of football, like you say with Tisdale I was a fan but his last couple a jobs have been very poor, Caldwell’s whole managerial career has been awful. While it’s not necessarily something I agree with but any non league manager is always has ‘no league experience’ shoved in their faces, but they’ve got to get it somewhere, with the same being said about current coaches like Eustace.

I’m not sure that’s as important as people make out. Wilder wasn’t an overly popular appointment at the time. There are a couple of potential appointments that would probably ruffle the feathers of the fan base, but generally I think most people would get behind whoever is appointed.

I don’t mind Sol at all. Did well for M’field and got the best out of Smith! Not sure how tosser applies to Sol Campbell in relation to M’field.

Look beneath the headlines, he didn't do a good job at Macclesfield.  ;)

Because of someone on our side!

It's the same with any job. You are meaured on your current performance not past victories. Nobody else is to blame for his sacking but himself. It's the same as a salesman losing his job because he has failed to meet this years targets even though he has met them for the past ten years. Do you not sack him because of his "personal circumstanes"? Failure to perform gets you shown to the door.

SingCob, As you might guess the point is that anybody sacked is as Melly puts it can (quote) ‘be devastating' (end quote) whether they are well healed, a football manager, a Salesman or even general public it can be a blow. Perhaps they deserve to lose their job but somebody maybe affected. I guess it can be a personal thing. To reiterate I quite liked Curle but was aghast at the last 3/4 games. Simply put; to me those two wins with the promotion put a spring in my step as it probably did for many on here. I prefer to remember him for his successes not his failures. Hope this satisfies your interest? As this particular comment has run its course; that's all from me. Good luck and UPC

At the time he famously kept them in L2 but agreed with IR to have them* wound up as they apparently owed Sol £189.00. So what has he done wrong as he appeared to save Macclesfield from relegation.

https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/sol-campbell-wants-macclesfield-town-17362925

Pretty much inevitable you would side with Campbell considering he is deluded and has issues. The guy who's CV reads, spent 10 days with England Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd?

"The FA is institutionally racist".

"I believe if I was white I would've been England captain for more than 10 years".

"I think the FA wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise, to be captain. I was consistently in the heart of the defence and I was a club captain early on my career".

"I’ve asked myself many times why I wasn’t [captain]. I keep coming up with the same answer. It was the colour of my skin."

"When I left Spurs I was one of the best defenders in the world and had done so much for such a long time with ultimately little reward. I practically kept the club up on my own for two years"

Nothing but racebait.

I really cant see what can be gained from getting anyone else in, we as supporters should do all we can to get JB and team the job.

Groundhog day again. Look at all the "name" managers we've had, from Internationals, promotion winners even European Cup winners and what have they achieved? Bugger all.

Since colour was invented, the most enjoyable football times we have had came from Carr, Atkins, Sammo and Wilder, the football may have been gash but even under Chard there was heart and belief.

Time to stop this utter bollocks, Brady may not be able to turn this ship around in time this season but, he'd put more bums on seats in league two, gain more support and team spirit than KC would do in league one. Its a business isn't it?

Its not my money of course but I think it would be best spent on players for Brady in the summer than big bucks for a Charlie big potatoes.

Not to defend the KC sacking but it’s always a poor defence to compare a football managers sacking to a ‘regular’ job. The football manager usually has the protection of a contract.
In most jobs you wouldn’t get sacked for a poor couple of months, or even a year. I guess you may walk on a compromise agreement, or protracted performance management process. Fortunately we have employment laws and HR policies to protect us from that, although there’s plenty of cowboy firms who would fire people on a whim. I’m guessing I work for a good un!

The reason I used the salesman as an example is because both jobs are results oriented.
Evers, I could not agree more. I was so looking forward to the start of the season after the fantastic run and play-off victories, with hopes of more play-off games, or at least comfortable survival in L1, but the fare that was served up by KC this season was dire, but as you say let's remember the good times and also remember we are in L1(albeit in a shít position) thanks to KC.

Cobblerrtone. Believe me salespeople get shown the door for poor performance on a regular basis and they do have contracts which offer the standard protection from being sacked on a whim. What the man in the street does not have is the parachute payments made until the end of their contracts or until they find a new job. Pretty much every job to a greater or lesser extent is performance based and as a manager your job is to get the best performance from your team wether it be a football team or a team building widgits and failure to do this will get you shown the door.

My order of preference would be:

1. John Brady (on the very important proviso that he proves that he can get wins at this level over the next three games or so)
2. An experienced L1 head like Paul Cook (unlikely)
or 3. An up-and-coming League 2 manager like Michael Flynn or at Newport at Duff at Cheltenham (would require compensation but would pay off massively IMO - c.f. Wilder)

How about 4. Taking a punt on a non-league manager, porbably a cheaper option than 2 and 3. Maybe we get a manager who has a singleminded very driven attitude to show their prowess in a higher league.

Apart from your probable unsubstantiated comments what has he actually done wrong?

You remind me of The Black Knight.  :-*

He is quoted as saying he was subjected to the worst case of personal racism against him at Sixfields that he experienced in his whole playing career.
I think that's what he said anyhow?

As one of the many in the North at the time I can categorically say I heard nothing of the sort and I'm pretty sure I would not have missed something as apparently overt as that.

Please tell what is your problem?

I suggested that you look 'beneath' the headlines and you quote one back at me?   ::)

What did you expect? ;D

Tall, short, fat, thin, black, white, gay, straight and anything in between....some people are just horrible c*nts.

He just never portrays himself as a very nice person. Perhaps he just wasn’t as good as he thought he was.

It's an interesting one. Why would he say that? I'm not saying that there was a any racist remarks but you can't help wondering why he would pick out Sixfields. There's no other animosity as far as I know.

He took plenty of stick that night, but I didn't hear one word of it relating to his colour.

Not much of a prospect now 4 from safety. Who in their right mind would want the challenge?

Plenty would. If they could keep us up it would look good on anyone's CV.

Nobody is keeping this group of players up

That's why I said if.

Time to appoint an external manager to give ourselves any chance. The Brady experiment clearly hasn’t worked.

2 points from 5 games, 3 of which were against fellow strugglers.

Under Curle we were an ineffective hoof ball team.

Under Brady we are an ineffective team who manage occasional bursts of passing football. It's easier on the eye but ultimately just as ineffective as Curle's hoof ball. He simply hasn't done enough to resolve the goal scoring problem and his substitutions are just as belated and ineffective as those of his predecessor.

He's a nice guy and a good coach and we should get him back with the youth team where he belongs.

Agreed, it was the right call to give him a go...things changed a little but not enough for the position we are in.

Big question is who to bring in.....the experienced managerial cupboard is pretty bare!

I can't see why any sane person would take on the task of managing the Cobblers without a commitment from the Board regarding investment in the team. The evidence seems to be that this is not forthcoming. We are treading water for years (or worse) under the current situation.

Tisdale in for me.

Inconsistent in League One but a very strong track record at League Two level.

Probably what we need.

At what point do people admit that calling for Curle's sacking after the transfer window had shut was a stupid mistake?

Not remotely.

At what point do you admit not sacking him before the window was a stupid mistake?

+1

They won't Larry. Might as well reappoint Curle and save money!

There's no point in sacking manager after the transfer window has shut and then criticising the new manager for the way they play. He should have sacked Curle before January or in the summer. Waiting until the summer would have been a valid option as would sacking in December but KT screwed up completely with this,

If we're going to lose either way, then I prefer it when we have the minimal amount of time hoofing the ball to nobody.

I dont know. If the quotes attributed to him above in SMM's post are true it's clear he has a very big opinion of himself and quite an ego.
Why choose Northampton? Perhaps it's one comment from one fan at one corner that has really got under his skin in a way I cant understand? I make absolutely no apologies for that if that is correct, but that isnt the impression I got when reading his review of the situation.
Whilst he was a really good player you have to be really really good: Ali good, Daley Thompson good, to get away with comments like the above about yourself dont you? If a mans capable of bigging himself up in that manner and in earnest, what else is he capable of in his quest for recognition and success?

Thought it was well known that Sol had a big opinion of himself! I certainly believe that to sack Curle after the Window had closed was a misjudgement. The results were going one way! There is some merit that it might have been better not to sack Curle until the end of the season depending on which league we where in!
It all seemed somewhat a bit popularist led which seemed to force KT's hand to give JB the caretakers job. Effectively that has been a disaster with us now at the bottom ::). Wouldn't mind betting that Curle would have got a draw from todays game.
Have no idea on Sol Campbells quoted dislike of Northampton, apparently due to racist comments which no one heard or even believed ::) With some now predictably calling for JB removal the situation may descend into uncertainty/chaos. To me Sol kept a relegation bound club up so perhaps he maybe worth a last throw of the dice. Don't care much for  moral principles particularly when the evidence against Sol is a bit
circumstantial or even 'curious'. If we lose one or two fans so be it as survival is the name of the game. Just my sad opinion tho'. :'(