There is already less than two months until the Championship season gets underway but, already we are seeing some big changes at multiple Championship clubs as they look to appoint brand new managers. So let’s analyse just who has got a new manager and perhaps more importantly, who is still desperately in need of a new gaffer.
Hull City have recently appointed the hilariously named Leonid Slutsky as their manager for next season. I mean it is really hard to look beyond the name ‘Slutsky’ for this one but I’ll try my best. Slutsky (sniggers) managed CSKA Moscow for seven years and won five domestic trophies during that time period so he’s no pushover. What might help him out is that he’s mates with a certain Mr. Abramovic so as well as giving him dirty oil money (allegedly) Roman can also loan him the entire Chelsea youth squad, and boy is there a lot of them.
Garry Monk quit Leeds United (more on them later) last month due to a disagreement with their owners and has now made his way to the mighty Middlesbrough. Monk is a good young manager and as a Boro fan, I’m fairly happy with his appointment, even if he does spell ‘Garry’ with two r’s and looks a lot like the lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs, a band that has certainly gone downhill in recent years.
Jorge Mendes FC, or Wolves as it’s known locally, have signed on ex-Porto manager Nuno Espirito Santo as their new gaffer. Former boss Paul Lambert left as he wasn’t very happy with super-agent Mendes controlling transfers, coupled with the fact he wasn’t very good. Appointing Nuno will either have Wolves promoted as champions or they’ll be bringing Alan Curbishley in to save their season in November. It could go either way.
Leeds United and Sunderland still haven’t got a manager. Alan Pardew seems to be the odds-on favourite at Elland Road so I look forward to Leeds being in the Premier League in one year and in League One in about three years. Pardew hasn’t managed a successful Championship team in over a decade so who knows if Pards is still up to it. I’m sure he believes he is. Sunderland have been linked with Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes in recent weeks but now club legend Kevin Phillips. Would he be a good appointment? No idea but bring in Niall Quinn as his assistant and magic could just happen again.