Stockport County’s search for a new manager will begin on Saturday night after the Blue Square Premier game with Ebbsfleet.
County have already had more than 20 applications for the job since Dietmar Hamann’s departure on Monday afternoon. But chairman Lord Peter Snape will not start drawing up a shortlist of candidates until after Saturday’s game.
Ex manager Jim Gannon, who is fronting a fans consortium hoping to save the ailing club, is the favourite and Snape has expressed an interest in speaking to the former Motherwell, Port Vale and Peterborough boss.
Privately, however, the club are insisting that Gannon won’t be considered unless he applies through the official channels.
Mike Newell and Martin Foyle, who were both interviewed twice when the job was vacant in the summer are also in contention.
So too is Hyde United manager Gary Lowe.
Lowe was appointed manager at Ewen Fields in May and has led the Tigers to the top of Blue Square Bet North. Lowe, however, is under contract at Hyde, which could prove a sticking point for cash-strapped County.
Ray Mathias, meanwhile, who was replaced by Hamann as permanent manager in the summer, has refused to rule out a return to Edgeley Park.
Mathias took over from Peter Ward as caretaker boss in March but couldn’t save County from relegation to the Conference. He was unveiled as the permanent manager in May, only to be demoted when Hamann arrived six weeks’ later.
But the 64-year-old said we would give serious consideration to the possibility of a return.
"I’ve not really thought about it yet," said Mathias.
"Obviously, there’s going to be a change. I haven’t thought about it but I haven’t ruled it out.
"There’s a lot to think about like what’s going on at the club behind the scenes what happened in the past.
"But I’ll sit down and think about it."
Yesterday, current caretaker Willie McStay held a meeting with players to explain Hamann’s resignation.
Some of the players voiced their surprise on Twitter after hearing news of Hamann’s departure with full-back Andy Halls posting: "Disappointing. Whoever takes charge will be my seventh manager in four seasons. Crazy."
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Amazed that there are 20 candidates!
Lets hope they dont throw mine in the bin...
Only one seriously to be considered and that is Jim Gannon - he may not be everyones favourite but his track record in County terms is top 4 County managers of the last 50 years.
Yes bring back Big Ray Pleeeeeeease!!
Is Jim Gannon able to come in yet? If so, then he should be offered the position immediately, if not then maybe give Ray Mathias until the end of the season?
20 candidates. That should give the board plenty of excuses to dither over an appointment for a couple of months. Meanwhile the team will be all but relegated, at which point there will be more dithering as they get their heads around the fact continuing to play at EP on crowds of <2000 is unsustainable. And we've still not had a full explanation for why Tony Evan's bid was rejected or any information on the promised alternative bids. We really are now in a Chester-like situation where starting at the bottom of the pile (free from the incompetants currently in charge; free from Brian Kennedy; free to influence decisions for "out town, our team" ) is the obvious way forward.
Can't see Jimbo biting unless the club is going to be run in a way that gives him, or any other manager, a meaningful chance to do the job successfully.