Bristol Rovers manager favourite delivers one-word verdict in hint at next move

Karl Robinson is aiming for a return to football management amidst links to the vacant Bristol Rovers job.

The former MK Dons and Oxford United manager is currently the favourite in the betting markets for the Gas job. Majority shareholder Hussain AlSaeed said that the club wanted a young manager that experience of winning promotion from the division, and Robinson has done that with MK Dons, whilst also taking Oxford to the play-offs twice.

He has been out of work since a short stint as a coach to Sam Allardyce at Leeds United, following his sacking by Oxford in February. Robinson appeared on Sky Sports' Football Talk, and didn't give too much away about his future plans, but did speak on various topics such as the life of a manager.

Asked if we'd see him back in the dugout at some stage soon, Robinson said with a smile on his face; "Hopefully."

Earlier on the panel, the topic of how the role of a manager has changed. Barton was hugely responsible for transfers, and worked with Eddy Jennings to identify transfer targets, and then secure them.

Robinson meanwhile said he was open to the idea of working with a technical director or director-of-football, however he still wanted to play a role in recruiting new players. He played a part in the development of Ezri Konsa and Dele Alli, whilst he also utilised the loan market to give Patrick Bamford a platform.

"I like having a responsibility in recruitment," Robinson said.

"I think a director of football is brilliant, everyone has to go along with it and we have to change. Head coach or whatever the title is, I still believe you have to have some sort of understanding of the players that the football club are bringing in.

"You want to know the person you're bringing in, their family and everything about them. You've got to mould them into a team that you make sure wins games of football."

Rovers owner AlSaeed, discussed the idea of changing the management structure of the club, and admitted that the next backroom staff could be coaches that are recruited by the club rather than the specific manager. Should Robinson be of interest to Rovers, then his stance on transfers could make for interesting discussions within the boardroom.

Robinson added: "To me, everywhere I've been I've always liked to have a handle on that, not sole decision making but you've got to be part of a team of people who makes the right decisions for the football club.

"The football club is the most important thing, we're coming through the doors and going back out of the doors whether it's three weeks or four years or whatever it may be.

"It's the fans club, and that is what it is. It's their football club you're taking care of for that period of time, and you need a group of people around the room to make the right decisions for that football club moving forward.

You can't be egotistical and go 'I know what's right' and 'I want this' and 'I want that'. You've got to be open-minded to change but within that change you should be able to debate who you're bringing in to your football team."