Rage Online Blog

Speculation surrounding the vacant manager's post at United reached what could almost be described as fever pitch today (relatively speaking), with no fewer than three new potential candidates being reported from various sources. First up, the official Ipswich Town website (registration site, but don't panic, the story was quickly picked up by, amongst others Sky Sports and the BBC) reported that allegedly Jim Magilton has been approached to become United's player manager. Obviously most would welcome Magic's return as a player, but there are concerns about his lack of management experience. So, if Jim doesn't fit the bill, don't worry, another former U was also reported to be in the running. The Liverpool Echo suggests that former midfielder Richard Hill, currently assistant boss at Tranmere, has also been linked with the job (we're not sure who exactly has been doing the linking, other than the journalists writing these articles, but it's all grist to our mill). The same article claims that Oxford have received around 60 applications for the post, which hasn't been advertised (coincidentally the same number of applicants that Wycombe apparently received for their vacant post).

As if that wasn't enough, Oxford's own tabloid, The Oxford Mail, has come up with a fairly unlikely story that Malcolm Crosby, currently assistant boss at Middlesbrough, and striker Tommy Mooney, have been "lined up" to be United's new "sensational management double act". The article goes on to say that "this possible new management duo is unlikely to happen at the Kassam Stadium", so one wonders who has been doing the lining-up. Getting back to something resembling reality, the piece concludes that Danny Wilson and Chris Turner remain the favourites for the job.

All this speculation may help sell newspapers, and fill a few lines on this blog, but at the end of the day only Firoz Kassam will make the decision, and the rumours will count for nada.

Labels: Chris Turner, Danny Wilson, Jim Magilton, Malcolm Crosby, Richard Hill, Tommy Mooney