Today in Trust member Kate Thompson’s South Africa diary, the trip to Bloemfontein

Day 18:  Saturday, 26 June 2010

Yet another early start:  we had to check out of the hotel at 5.30 and leave at 6.00.  We picked up from the Lagoon Beach hotel and got to the airport with bags of time to spare.  The flight was on time and there was a bit of a delay while we waited for the coach to take us to the hotel.  There was so much luggage that we needed a truck to take the overflow!  We arrived at the hotel, which turned out to be in Morningside (links with Edinburgh I wonder) rather than Sandton, although very close.  All the properties round here have gates and armed security and we are strongly advised against going out at night. 

I’m not sure I want to spend the best part of two weeks in a hotel, however nice, and am a bit surprised that Thomson Sport have not offered any trips.  It is a very nice hotel, with wifi access – hooray, at last I can listen to all the Radio 4 programmes I’m missing, as well as being in almost constant touch with family and friends.  Because we had been fed on the plane, I just had a cereal bar and a piece of fruit for a late lunch and ate in the hotel restaurant in the evening.  It was nice and not too pricey but I might get fed up with the menu by the end of my time here.  The hotel is described as a boutique hotel and is on just two levels, with quite a few stairs and no lift.  It is apparently influenced by Lutyens!  I have a lovely room:  a huge bed, a bath as well as a shower, a fridge, etc.  I can think of worst places to spend two weeks provided I don’t die from boredom!...

Speculation continues to mount on who Milan Mandaric will choose as the next manager of LCFC with the difficult task of building on Nigel Pearson’s reign at the club, therefore we are looking for someone who can guide the club to again make a strong challenge for promotion this season

With that in mind, as a benchmark, here are the records of the 3 most successful managers of recent times prior to joining LCFC.

Although generally the Trust believes we should be looking for a manager with a win ratio of 40% or greater and a not lost ratio of around 70%, Pearson’s record prior to joining us was quite poor, however his record while managing the club surpassed both Little and O’Neill, although obviously no Premiership games to reduce that record, their 3 records while managing our club were

With Simon Grayson clearly ruling himself out of the running today, here are the records of the 14 other names that have cropped up the most so far....