Earlier in the day it was reported that Leeds were trying to lure Karl Robinson from Milton Keynes Dons, but the latest is that Robinson has decided to stay put.
This morning Sky were reporting that the 35-year-old was in talks with Massimo Cellino, but evidently he wasn’t tempted, and they are now suggesting our next target will be Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke.
I’ve was rather underwhelmed by the thought of Robinson taking over at Elland Road after he had failed to keep MK Dons in our division, though I suppose he might have stood more of a chance if he’d had a bigger budget to work with.
38 year-old Clarke might be a more interesting prospect, and although he’s someone we’ve never heard of he promises to be a lot better than another Hockaday. He took Rovers back into the Football League in his first full season (2014/15) and then guided them to a second successive promotion 12 months later.
Although his playing career was entirely in the lower divisions, there are quite a few top managers who didn’t have spectacular playing careers, and Clarke could prove to be one of the best up-and coming managers in the English game. I’d certainly rather have him in charge than some of the continental has-beens that have been mentioned, who have zero experience in the Football League.
But as ever, the problem is going to be Massimo Cellino. With Il Presidente’s record in firing head coaches and general unpredictability, it would be unwise for any manager who is already in a job to pack it in and come and work for him. That might well have been the problem with Robinson, who probably would have regarded Leeds as a better prospect than MK Dons in happier times.
So we’re no nearer finding a coach for next season, but the approach to Robinson does at least confirm that Steve Evans won’t be kept on for the new season. The Scot has been telling anyone who will listen that he has identified a series of transfer targets, but it looks like he’ll have to put that work to good use by signing them for his next club.
Unless of course Cellino can’t persuade any other coach to work for him, and so will have to stick with Evans. At least Evans actually wants the job.