As the announcement of Martin Allen as the next Leicester City Manager is widely expected at 11am Friday 25th May, this is the final article giving the new of Foxes Trust members on who they felt the best choice for manager would be.
Managers I'd like – names like Coleman, Jewel, Davies. Basically an English / British manager who will look to pack the squad with British players and look to build on the good young players we have (Porter/Stearman/Mattock) and those coming through.
Good record of signing players so money is not wasted like a certain Peter Taylor. And not a manager who wants loads of foreign players like at Bolton or Arsenal – Gary Lovell.
Chris Coleman – A success at Fulham and unlucky to be sacked – Kathryn McCubbin
Views received after first news on an approach to MK Dons to speak to Martin Allen
Your list of possible managers and questions show just how difficult the selection is. Am I too demanding and unrealistic because I do have problems with so many of the people on the list, although it is extensive. I gather from today's statement that Martin Allen is coming to the fore, however I will continue with my views.
I think that Davies would be pretty good with his recent record, assuming that it is true that he would be prepared to leave Derby if they are not promoted. But is he too negative? Could they not have done better at Filbert Way at Easter if they had not been so cautious?
So my overall choice would have to be Simon Grayson. Obviously he is a former player, has had a very good year at Blackpool, and I would have to overcome the obvious reservations about his lack of sufficient experience. He knows more about the City than any of the others and may well bring other former players onto the staff. Anyone who could involve Steve Walsh and then get even a fraction of his commitment over to the players would succeed – Tony Asher…..
Many thanks for the info. Some interesting stats. There are some strong contenders and, if we're honest, some not so strong ones. From what I've seen here, and given today's developments, I'd probably go for Allen.
To guide MK Dons, a club in freefall, into the playoffs in your first season is impressive. He's also got more games under his belt then O'Neill and has similar win and not lost figures. He could be the guy we need. – Paul Imrie
Martin Allen – Spirit, no-nonsense, team ethic, decent record, ambition. – Andy Carruthers
Out of the 16 mentioned, Paul Jewell (Please note I’d prefer Martin O’Neill if we could prise him from Aston Villa). (Martin O’Neill – Still a great manager, if we could just persuade Villa to part with him.)
Paul Jewell – He plays attractive football; we’ve watched enough long ball losses. He’s an honest manager. Considering some of his games are wins/draws in the Premiership shows his quality too.
My 2nd choice would be Chris Coleman even though his “win” record is pretty low, as again his style is for attractive football. – Bharat Thakrar
Tigana – Track record – knowledge of European football, Davies – Track record, Ince – Good start at Macclesfield, standing in the game/contacts/a winner.
As for Martin Allen – I think he is a strong contender – much along the lines of Ince. Talk sport were questioning Leicester's decision to interview him on basis that with the biggest budget in league he still did not get promotion. I think he is a good motivator from interviews I have seen. – Peter Clarke
If Billy Davies was available, I'd appoint him, as he has shown that he can make teams highly competitive in the Championship. If not, I'd probably go for Nigel Worthington as a safeish pair of hands who has got a side up into the Premier League and almost kept them up, and he has shown an eye for players. Third choice would be Martin Allen, who demands passion. – Jim Johnson
I'm finding it difficult to choose our next manager as the majority of the candidates are spectacularly average on paper. I think it's important to go for someone who is young and ambitious and on their way up the leagues rather than someone who has failed many times before. On that basis I'd say Simon Grayson, who is doing really well at Blackpool, and may be able to bring in some of our old favourites to help. Paul Jewell has a decent record for getting teams out of this division and Martin Allen has the ambition and personality we've been looking for. – Matt Orton
First choice has to be Grayson, but unlikely, so Tigana (likely) or Allen. – James Gisborn
I would appoint Coleman, but I can't see him taking it if approached. Or Tigana or Jewell. If we want to be in the Premiership sooner rather than later we'd be better to go with experience. As much as I love the IDEA of Ince, Grayson or Allen coming in and doing the business, it's not realistic.
I think Coleman, Tigana and Jewell are the most "progressive" in the list. Many are excellent motivators, but tactically are they capable of anything other than a long ball game when the pressure is on? Anyway, it's all relative to squad strength and quality, Milan! – Ash Brown
I feel the club should appoint a younger man, well versed in the realties of running a club on a smallish budget and having a good knowledge of emerging talent from the lower and non league divisions.
My initial thoughts that Newell was the man have now been clouded by the emergence of Simon Grayson and Martin Allen as credible contenders (backed up by the statistics in your tables).
Grayson has the least experience but then look at Brian Little's record. So I'll sit on the fence and suggest that it should be one of these three. – Keith Mason
Simon Grayson proved the most popular candidate, while Paul Jewell and Martin Allen (who had a surge of support once an approach was announced) were joint second.
The lack of support for Neil Warnock being given the job continued to grow, only one member thought he was worth a try, while 56% considered him their worst nightmare.
The table given the statistics of a number of managers are repeated below, noting the much higher level of success of Martin Allen in comparison to most other candidates, certainly a significant contrast with the new chosen manager at one of next season’s rivals Sheffield United.
| Manager | Games | Won | Lost | Drawn | % Won | % Not Lost |
| Worthington | 419 | 160 | 163 | 96 | 38.2% | 61.1% |
| Warnock | 1017 | 405 | 331 | 281 | 39.8% | 67.5% |
| Coleman | 176 | 61 | 71 | 44 | 34.7% | 59.7% |
| Ince | 35 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 40.0% | 62.9% |
| Grayson | 83 | 37 | 22 | 24 | 44.6% | 73.5% |
| Davies | 277 | 115 | 86 | 76 | 41.5% | 69.0% |
| Dowie | 235 | 91 | 81 | 63 | 38.7% | 65.5% |
| Johnson | 452 | 203 | 144 | 105 | 44.9% | 68.1% |
| Tigana | 154 | 69 | 43 | 42 | 44.8% | 72.1% |
| Robson | 423 | 153 | 159 | 111 | 36.2% | 62.4% |
| Jewell | 446 | 185 | 156 | 105 | 41.5% | 65.0% |
| Pearce | 120 | 41 | 50 | 29 | 34.2% | 58.3% |
| Hoddle | 504 | 192 | 162 | 150 | 38.1% | 67.9% |
| Allen | 179 | 82 | 50 | 47 | 45.8% | 72.1% |
| Slade | 316 | 121 | 107 | 88 | 38.3% | 66.1% |
| Roeder | 349 | 117 | 137 | 95 | 33.5% | 60.7% |
| Newell | 229 | 96 | 75 | 58 | 41.9% | 67.2% |
The views expressed are those of individual Foxes Trust members and do not represent the official viewpoint of the Foxes Trust