Bristol Rovers enter their first full week of their manager search after parting company with Joey Barton last Thursday.
In an interview with the BBC on Saturday, new majority shareholder Hussain Alsaeed lifted the lid on Joey Barton's departure, and what the criteria of what they want in their next manager. The Gas' slow start to the season was not what the board had in mind, and following a transfer window in which some supporters claimed was the best for some time, the performances just weren't there to match those statements.
As a result, Barton was relieved of his duties, and now the board want someone that is experienced of getting the club out of the division. Promotion from League One to the Championship is extremely hard, especially when there's a handful of former Premier League clubs knocking about, and right now Rovers are seven points off of the play-offs, and a whole 10 points off the automatics.
The latest update from the club is that they are already speaking to people and that they are going to continue in the Barton mould of having a younger manager. A promotion-winning manager who has been there and done it at this level is preferred or someone with Championship experience, and there are several bosses currently out of work that could fit the bill.
Andy Mangan is currently in caretaker charge and his message from the club is that he's been told to stabilise things, however how long he remains in the role remains to be seen. An FA Cup first round match against non-league Whitby Town awaits Rovers, and it'll be interesting to see whether Mangs is in the dugout for that or whether it will be a swift managerial appointment from the board should a preferred candidate emerge in the coming days.
In the mean time, take a look at the current state of the betting market on BetVictor, and where managers that have been placed in the running for the Bristol Rovers job and tell us who you think should take the club forward.
1. Phil Parkinsonn, Pete Wild, Paul Tisdale and Paul Hartley and Steve Bruce.
33/1 Photo: Pete Norton/Getty Images)
2. Stephen Bradley, Sol Campbell, Shaun Derry, Scott Brown, Sam Allardyce and Robbie Neilson
33/1 Photo: Oisin Keniry/Getty Images
3. Adam Hinshelwood, Aidy Boothroyd, Andy Woodman, Brian Barry-Murphy, Chris Hughton, Craig Hignett and Damien Duff.
33/1 Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
4. Dean Smith, Derek McInnes, Frank Lampard, Ian Daws, Keith Curle, Kevin Muscat and Kevin Phillips.
33/1 Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)