Albion blog: The Replacements

I must have had a hundred conversations in the past week and a bit about who could be next into the hot seat at the Hawthorns, so I have decided to share what I have heard and get your feelings on the big decision.

The list of candidates linked to the job gets longer by the day but the most common names appearing on the gossip boards include Darren Ferguson, Alan Curbishley, Paul Ince, Alan Irvine, Derek McInnes and Aidy Boothroyd.

Other names appearing as having an outside chance are Gary Johnson, Paul Jewell and Steve McLaren.

Out of all the names two stand out a firm no.

A number of years ago, I had the misfortune to meet Paul Ince. He was rude, arrogant and I developed an instant dislike of him.

His short managerial career had minor success at lower-league level and, when combined with his infamous name in football, it resulted in him being given an opportunity at Blackburn he did not deserve.

Six months of inept decision making and dire football was enough for him to be given his P45 and shown the way out of Ewood Park.

I haven't spoken to a single Albion fan that wants to see him at our club and, with him being a former Wolves captain, his appointment would in my opinion be both a football and PR disaster.

My other candidate for the bin would be Boothroyd, as he played a style of football at Watford that Albion fans would not be too keen on.

The many conversations I have had this week have nearly all surrounded three names in Peterborough's Darren Ferguson, St Johnstone's Derek McInnes and the out-of-work Alan Curbishley.

The one name that has slipped under the radar has been Gary Johnson at Bristol City.

His record is an impressive one, arguably with one glaring omission - he has no Premier League experience.

But, consequently, he has no real failures on his CV either. His teams play attractive football and, although limited on funding, has come close to securing Premier League football for a club lacking financial clout.

I would place him on the 'to-be-interviewed' list along with the three front runners.

My blog last week openly stated that my preferred choice would be Curbishley, but I would also be happy enough with Ferguson, McInnes or Johnson.

Whoever comes in will be walking into possibly our busiest summer ever.

Firstly they will need a backroom team putting in place, secondly they will need to assess the current squad and decide who can leave and who must stay.

Lastly, the new boss will need to put their own team of players together through the transfer system and get them to incorporate his ideas.

Sounds a lot to get done before August 8 doesn't it?

One last thing I would like to mention, when will players realise they should be wary of what they say to the press.

The internet, Sky Sports and - dare I say it - blog forums means that we are constantly bombarded with endless information relating to our clubs and players.

Managers and players alike need to realise that bridges are built with fans over years of hard service, but burned in a blink of an eye.

Paul Robinson has served our club well over the past six years, but his loose comments since the end of the season has tainted most fans view of him.

Having read them, I found them so unnecessary.

Just a quick note to any players or managers that may read this, if you want to leave the club who have paid your salary and supported you for a number of years: -

Tell your agent not the press, do not tell tales out of class, do not kiss the badge unless you mean it, be respectful and that respect will be returned and always remember football is an incestuous business.

You never know when you will need to cross a bridge you burned years previously.

OK rant over. I hope my next blog is to discuss the arrival of our new manager, but who will it be?