MelvinBragg

I still reckon Calderwood would prefer a chance at managing in England at the moment. For some reason, I just don't see him being interested in the Motherwell job. Would I be happy with him as manager? Well, he can positively influence a game with a substitution/tactical change so that's one up on McGhee. Unfortunately, his transfer record is as patchy as that of McGhee...

That is good to hear although less encouraging to read in The Sun is the fact that it could be next week before anything is resolved. I know Aberdeen are probably counting on the fact that we are working within a short time frame and need things sorted and it might help them drive the price down. I don't envy Boyle in the hard balancing act he's having to manage between getting this sorted ASAP and making sure we don't get fleeced...

While there will be those who still dislike John Boyle (and I respect their strength of feeling and reasons on that), there can be no argument that he's done himself no end of good PR wise recently...

Great performance that sticks in the mind even though we didn't win was a 1-1 draw with Hearts in the 90/91 season. Pishing down all game, seem to remember we were all over them and had something like 3 goals chopped off. Could also have been the day that Stevie Kirk flattened a linesman...

I could see why Paul Quinn might attract more suitors that the other two given his attitude towards winning and his physical attributes. I wouldn't want to lose him but if forced to say which of the three we must keep, it would be Clarkson...

Aye, hence my rabbit out of a hat comment. I think because of the real dearth of managerial talent in Scotland that will be available on our budget, this will be a real test of John Boyle. There is no 'obvious' candidate who meets our needs. We can only hope that someone that isn't even on the radar applies and impresses or that John Boyle really uses his imagination and pulls a blinder. His handling of the Ian McCall story suggests he's in form...

Hard to argue with that assessment, though I'm told that at least one of them will be sold this summer to raise some funds. And it'll be up to the new manager which of the three it is. My own preference? Reynolds...

Only problem is that we have the potential of Aberdeen getting fed up waiting and Celtic not giving him the job and we find ourselves stuck with a guy who, for a lot of the fans, has burnt his bridges now and who, with the best will in the world, would not be coming to the job with the greatest enthusiasm...

For me a lot of the names being mentioned here are unrealistic. Hoddle and Keegan are two guys we could never get. Even Calderwood left Aberdeen because he was unhappy at having to trim his squad, hardly making him likely to want to come to Fir Park. Davie Hay and Tommy McLean are guys who could probably do without the hassle of full time SPL management these days (Hay just keeps getting left holding the baby at Livingston), and it could be argued they are managers from when football was a very different game (too much player power these days for wee Tommy, I reckon). I reckon Gary McAllister won't move back and if he thought the job was difficult two years ago, it's even more so now. So who are we left with? Lambert, Nijholt, someone doing well in the English lower leagues, Chisholm, Brian Reid or Derek Adams are the realistic names being mentioned. Unless JB pulls a rabbit out of the hat again. Is it any wonder that Nijholt out of that list is the name causing the most excitement...?

For what it's worth, I don't think we'll get Luc Nijholt. My gut (and my source) leads me to believe that Gordon Chisholm would be first choice. I just think, given the strengthening the squad requires, we need someone who can call upon knowledge and contacts outside of Scottish football to pick up signings. We don't need to be competing with Hibs, Dundee Utd, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen for players. That's why my choice would be Nijholt, McAllister or Gannon. Were it to be Nijholt, someone experienced like Tommy McLean who still knows Scottish football would be ideal as an assistant. But like I say, I reckon we'll be shopping closer to home this summer...

My nightmare scenario. Not because I don't rate McGhee. But I don't particularly want a manager who doesn't really want to be here and would be looking enviously at the other dugouts when we go to Pittodrie and Celtic Park...

It's not like McLeish or Davies. He has managed in the Dutch lower leagues. And coached with Adrianse and Van Gaal. Not like he's just hung up his boots. Feyenoord considered appointing him as interim head coach this year. If they thought, even for a second, that he was capable of the job, it suggests to me that there are those within Dutch football who rate the guy. And might be willing to let their young players out on loan to learn under his stewardship...

Aye, as did Martin O'Neill. Difference is neither of those guys was leaving to join a club in the same division. Conflict of interests...?

100% correct. McGhee's big excuse last season was the injuries/suspensions cost us last season. I, for one would take a slight drop in the pedigree (note I said pedigree, not necessarily quality) of player if it meant we had a slightly larger squad. By pedigree and not quality, I'm suggesting that we could find a player who could be at least equally as effective as Stephen Hughes in his position but without the big name and the big salary that the name brings. Maybe time to try and re-create some of the feeling of Butcher's first season by getting some young hungry players. Difference is that this time, we already have experienced players to play with them. How many Motherwell games have Clarkson, Craigan, Lasley, Quinn and Hammell played combined? I don't have the figures to hand but I imagine it would be staggering given only one of them over 30...

Even if you remove part of Porter's wages and possibly Hughes', it still leaves a chunk of wage bill. Could easily pick up three players for Malcolm's wages that would contribute six times more than he did. One cautionary note would be that we're the only SPL club having to replace a pitch this summer. The fact is we've been run more carefully than most clubs in the last few years, so hopefully we'll see the benefits compared to Hibs, Falkirk, Kilmarnock and others...

I know I'm starting a new thread about this but I couldn't find mention of it anywhere and it angered me enough to start a new topic. I heard a rumour today that Mark McGhee has offered to help John Boyle find his successor. I don't know whether to believe this or not, as this source has been pretty good before, but this seems pretty outrageous. The thought of someone who'll be our competition next year helping us pick our manager kind of sticks in the throat a bit. Anyone heard anything about this...?

Aye, and unfortunately due to the lack of income, we're going to have to be imaginative putting a squad together. The fact that he worked for so long in Alkmaar's youth system means that Luc will know not only some gems that he helped bring through who might be available on loan or have fallen out of favour wherever they ended up, but will have a decent knowledge of other young players kicking about Dutch football. We need a new imaginative approach here, not someone who's so immersed in Scottish football, an innovative signing is getting an Old Firm young player on loan...

I actually reckon there will be bargains to be had out there in terms of player salaries. Given everyone is tightening their belts, players will have to lower their demands. I mean, what else are these guys going to do? Get a real job...?

I wasn't keen to start with but the managers he has worked with/under have swayed me. If previous quotes are to be believed he'd bring a real enthusiasm to the job. He will have a wide range of contacts having worked with some decent clubs. I know there are a few managers with these qualities but the enthusiasm he would seem to bring is what sways me...

Sack him now. We don't have time for this crap...

Twas me, big fella, and like you if Bobby Williamson or Ian McCall is posing with the claret and amber scarf next week, I suspect my enthusiasm would not be flooding back. A picture of Luc Nijholt assisted by Tommy McLean on the other hand, might give me a stauner...

Without wishing any ill on the guy, I assumed he'd retired when he hadn't already been linked with the Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibs jobs...

Not crushed by this. All this means is that we're now competing with Falkirk rather than Hibs for managers who're willing to come to the SPL. And being honest with you, probably suits us better...

Dinnae panic, man. Wait and see who is appointed, might well be surprised at the candidates we get. Everyone in football is in the same boat at the moment, so we're no worse off than most teams. And you say that Hamilton will hold on to their best players? Transfer window's not even open yet, wait and see what happens...