Management decisions

Last updated : 25 March 2005 By Keith Allman
As we move towards the end of the season there's going to be more and more talk about who is going to take up the reins when Velimir stands aside. It's inevitable, and has lead to the media - local and national - throwing a fair few names into the mix. You've got those who are mentioned about every job (Gordon Strachan, George Graham); you've got the foreign influence (Adriaanse) and then one or two surprise additions. In our case, that means Neil Warnock.

It's a well known fact that Milan is a big admirer of Warnock from his time at Sheffield United and some even say that he wanted him to become manager here in 2002, before Harry took over - personally I think that's the press trying to add another bit of "evidence" to the rumours he's going to come to Fratton Park since all I remember is Rix being kicked out and Harry coming straight down from the boardroom to replace him, but what do I know.

Either way, the Sheffield United board see our interest as enough of a threat to have released a press statement today. But would we really be interested in Warnock? Milan has said he wants someone "experienced" and who knows about the English leagues; he's been a manager for nearly twenty years so he certainly fits that bill. We don't know if he'd be willing to fit in as "a cog in the machine" in our future set-up of having a Dof/coach/assistant coach/etc. etc. rather than as the one and only manager who makes all the decisions for himself. Having said that, Milan and Velimir released a press statement this week saying that the new manager would have utter control - perhaps trying to remove some of the bad PR the media are giving off about the Fratton Park hotseat?

The final - and biggest - question is whether or not he'd be willing to leave the club he supported as a boy to come way down south for a risky job. The lure of the Premiership is one thing, but there's immense pressure on the next manager here to impose themselves. Redknapp was a loudmouth character and the quiet and studious Zajec doesn't seem to have gone down well with the fans - someone with character like Warnock might just bring that. And perhaps his job at United isn't as safe as it might seem - with his team struggling to get into the play-offs this season, the board and fans might forget the memories of those recent semi-final escapades if there's no end product.

Food for thought, that's for sure.