SALFORD SHORTLIST: FIVE MANAGERS WHO COULD BE THE NEW SALFORD BOSS

Featured Image Credit: Manchester Evening News

After the controversial sacking of Graham Alexander, the expectations for Salford’s next manager will be high.

Here are five candidates that could take over at the Peninsula Stadium…

Paul Scholes

You have to start with the current interim manager. Despite his status as an owner at the club, Paul Scholes will be taking to the dugout for the next few games. He arrives relatively inexperienced as a manager, with a short spell at Oldham in the 2018/19 season being the only time Scholes has been in charge. It was problems with the Oldham owners that led to the Manchester United legend resigning after just a month, but that will not be a problem at Salford, with the class of 92 being at the helm. While he apparently was not so keen to be the interim manager, Scholes has stepped up alongside Warren Joyce and will have an audition for the role over the next few games. 

Warren Joyce

Warren Joyce was meant to be the interim manager but has had to self-isolate for 14 days so he will be joining Scholes once that period is up. The former Manchester United reserves manager, and now the Salford development coach will also have the opportunity to audition for the role. His ability to bring through young players as he did for Manchester United will be something that could interest the Salford board. However, his management career has not gone too well in recent years, after decent spells at Hull City and Royal Antwerp in the 2000’s, an unsuccessful spell at Wigan and a forgettable one at Melbourne Victory means Joyce doesn’t have the most momentum heading into a job.

Roy Keane

The tough-talking pundit has emerged as a shock contender for the Salford job after nine years out of management. During that time, Keane has been an assistant to Martin O’Neil at the Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest, as well as helping Paul Lambert briefly at Aston Villa. Roy Keane was quite successful at Sunderland as he took over while the Black Cats were in the Championship relegation zone, eventually leading them into the Premier League in the same season. After resigning due to problems with owner Ellis Short, the Irishman arrived at Ipswich, but that did not go so well as he was dismissed after his second season at the club. If Roy Keane were to be appointed as Salford manager, it would certainly be interesting to see how his disciplined style of man-management would translate into modern football.

Paul Cook

While not an outright contender for the job, Salford have been known to bring in players and staff that belong in leagues higher than what the Ammies are in. Paul Cook comes in with a lot of experience and recently, some success as a manager. He guided Chesterfield into the playoffs in 2015 before resigning due to problems with the owner, Cook then took Portsmouth to the League Two title and most recently would have kept Wigan up if it wasn’t for the 12 point deduction handed to them. Cook would without a doubt big the biggest coup for Salford, with his hard-working persona certain to win over fans and his experience at a higher level will get the players on board. 

Danny Cowley

Another one of the favourites to take over, Danny Cowley is currently looking for work after a tough spell at Huddersfield. It is no secret what him and his brother/long-term assistant Nicky Cowley were able to achieve at Lincoln City, taking them from a mid-table Conference side to a solid League One team. Huddersfield was the first tough spell for the Cowley’s, who had been successful at every other job beforehand. Salford are looking for a manager to guide them into League One and begin their mission to the Premier League, and Danny Cowley is a proven promotion winner and would be another coup for Salford City, but one they could pull off.