Will Cotts Be Coaxed Away?

Last updated : 10 October 2011 By Jim Bonner

Steve Cotterill has emerged as a candidate for the manager's role at Bristol City and Nottingham Forest.

The Pompey manager is currently the third favourite to take the job at Ashton Gate with a report in The Mirror suggesting that the Robins will make an official approach for him, although it looks like ex-Barnsley boss Mark Robins will eventually be announced as Keith Millen's successor.

However, what may surprise some people is that the ex-Notts County boss the favourite for the Forest job and is priced at evens with some bookmakers. The likes of Roy Keane and John Pemberton were considered strong candidates but Cotterill is currently the clear favourite. Perhaps they know something we don't?

As much as some Pompey fans would drive him up to the Trent themselves, I cannot see Cotterill leaving Fratton Park out of choice because he is a stubborn individual who genuinely seems like he wants to transform Portsmouth FC.

I remember one of his earliest interviews before Pompey's Carling Cup tie with Stevenage last season when he stated his intent to play a massive part in rebuilding the club and he reinforced those claims at the Pompey fans' forum last month.

Also, there were many times when you would have thought he would have walked out of Pompey given the trouble going on behind the scenes. Now he has some backing from CSI, it would make no sense for him to jump ship. Unless the Forest job is really that appealing of course.

I forsee Cotterill staying at Pompey for the time being although given how the odds on him leaving for Forest are shortening, I can't say that with any real conviction.

On the other hand, he may well be forced out of the door anyway should his team lose to Barnsley on Saturday.