Why on earth are Motherwell considering Ian Holloway when David Martindale offers best value in BRITAIN, says Kris Boyd
ABERDEEN and Motherwell are both currently looking for new managers.
What price Dundee United could soon be in the market for one too?
The vibes coming out of Tannadice are not good.
So if I were Liam Fox, I’d be looking over my shoulder.
We have reached the stage of the season when owners and chairmen start to panic.
It is always a worry for those managers in the relegation zone, although I’m sure Derek McInnes and Malky Mackay have enough credit in the bank at Kilmarnock and Ross County respectively.
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I’m not so sure about Fox — and that is no reflection on his ability as a coach.
It’s more about those higher up the food chain at United, and the players who have already got Jack Ross the sack this season.
It looked as if Fox had turned the corner when United secured back-to-back wins over County and St Johnstone.
They have now lost four on the spin, scoring just once, and went out of the Cup to a Killie side who couldn’t buy an away win.
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Interestingly, Tony Asghar put his head above the parapet for the first time in months last week.
The timing of the sporting director’s appearance raised my suspicions, with owner Mark Ogren also due in Scotland soon for the first time in ages.
Something doesn’t feel right about the whole thing.
To be fair, Ogren should be getting more bang for his bucks.
United spent fortunes luring Steven Fletcher, Jamie McGrath and Dylan Levitt to Tannadice.
Yet they don’t have much to show for it.
United are toiling and I fear Fox will be the fall guy, just like Ross before him.
Suddenly there could be THREE Premiership jobs up for grabs.
With Aberdeen and Well, there have been names in the frame from all around the globe.
From Brazil to Poland and a whole host of managers from south of the border.
Yet the answer is staring them in the face.
If you are looking for a manager with an impeccable record and proven in the league, then surely Davie Martindale should be the first port of call.
Pound for pound he offers the best value for money in Britain.
I’m tired of him having to explain his background all the time.
He’s been honest and up front about his time inside and never tried to hide his past. He has paid his debt to society.
Surely the time has come to focus on his managerial ability — and his managerial ability alone?
Martindale knows how to set up a team. And how to motivate.
Tactically, he has got it. He gets players to continually run through brick walls for him — and he’s done it all on a shoestring budget.
He has been doing it for years at Livingston, so it is no flash in the pan. Yet certain people still try to knock him.
A lot was made of the video leaked from when they played Stenhousemuir in the Cup.
For me, that reflected badly on the person associated with Stenny who decided to put it online.
But I didn’t mind it. Sometimes players need to be told a few home truths. After Martindale’s half-time rocket, they come from behind to win the tie comfortably.
I’ve heard that spiel a few times during my career from guys like Walter Smith and Jim Jefferies. They were two of the most respected figures in the game, but were also partial to a bit of industrial language as and when it was required.
Well and Aberdeen are crying out for someone like Martindale, yet seem hell-bent on looking anywhere but West Lothian.
There is an inherent snobbery among football chairmen, but they are missing a trick by completely overlooking him.
Why on earth would Motherwell consider bringing in Ian Holloway?
And before people jump on the ‘He’s managed in the English Premier League’ bandwagon, that was a long time ago.
I’ve been to three Scottish games in the past week and I’d willingly bet that’s more than Holloway has seen in the past decade.
Seriously, what does he know about our game? His last job was at Grimsby, where they ran him out of town.
Grant McCann is another to be interviewed and has more appeal after some decent work in England’s lower leagues.
Yet I’d still go for Martindale, or Stuart Kettlewell, every day of the week ahead of him.
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The Livi boss can’t change his past.
Sadly for him, others up here can’t seem to let it go.
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