Next Oxford United Manager Odds: Seven names in the frame to replace Liam Manning
EFL pundit Gab Sutton picks out seven candidates to become the next Oxford United Head Coach, after Liam Manning left for Bristol City.
Scroll down to browse the full next manager odds.
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1. Des Buckingham
Des Buckingham has delivered historic success at Mumbai City, working under a Director of Football in Sujay Sharma, and will be used to that way of working.
With 23 years of coaching under his belt, he was highly-rated even before achieving record-breaking results with the Islanders, heavily backed by Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
Buckingham was nurtured, initially, at Oxford United Academy and Oxford & Cherwell Valley College, learning from U’s legend, the late, great Micky Lewis.
He attained his UEFA A Licence badge in that time, coaching the first team with Chris Wilder at only 29 before seeking opportunities abroad.
After becoming Football Development Manager with the New Zealand FA, Buckingham took on various roles with A-League club Wellington Pheonix, Stoke City, New Zealand Under-20s and Under-23s (Olympics), before taking the senior team, assisting Fritz Schmidt.
Gaining recognition for a positive, attacking approach, he then assisted Melbourne City to their first A-League title in 11 years in a historic double, and was able to replace key players to continue success with Mumbai, winning the Asian Champions League.
Buckingham could be an exciting move for Oxford: they’d be getting a talented coach with huge potential, but also someone experienced in coaching.
Odds correct as of 2023-11-08 15:09 Odds subject to change.
2. Brian Barry-Murphy
You don’t get entrusted with nurturing the best young players in the world if you’re not an outstanding coach, and that’s clearly the case with Brian Barry-Murphy.
After gaining stylistic and developmental plaudits for his work with Rochdale, keeping them up twice in difficult circumstances before relegation from League One the third time around, the Irishman got the Man City EDS gig, and has progressed the likes of Rico Lewis and Cole Palmer.
As such, the big question with regards to the Oxford job is not whether he has the talent, but whether he wants to become a number one again in senior football, and whether he wants to embrace that competitive environment: three times the pressure, for a third of the money.
If he really wants that, then he’s got to be considered.
Odds correct as of 2023-11-08 15:09 Odds subject to change.
3. John Eustace
Eustace was 7+/10 on every attribute you’d want from a Championship manager.
From improving players individually, developing a style and making a team cohesive, to man management, media-handling and fan relations, there was nothing he fell short in.
Some would point to in-game management last season, as Eustace struggled to change games, but so much of that was down to the lack of depth, as he inherited a wafer thin squad, and often had a bench comprising of youngsters who may not have been ready, veterans well past their best, and peak-age players who just weren’t quite up to the level.
However, it’s since been proven that when he has the options, as he’s had this season, he’s been able to make impactful alterations.
Sure, Eustace might not be a stylistic idealist like other candidates, but he shouldn’t get pigeonholed as a long ball manager either: he likes his teams to sustain pressure in a way that’s defensively responsible, look after the ball in those moments whilst being able to threaten in transition.
The only reason he was sacked at Birmingham was because Garry Cook wanted a high-profile name, so this is a golden opportunity for Oxford to get a proven Championship manager in League One.
Odds correct as of 2023-11-08 15:09 Odds subject to change.
4. Luke Williams
When Liam Manning earnt 89 points with MK Dons in 2021-22, it was building on the work that had already been done by Luke Williams, who had assisted Russ Martin the year before.
That season, MK Dons only got 65 points, but they were one of the best teams in the league between both boxes, and it’s possible Manning couldn’t have achieved what he did the following season without those foundations.
As such, if Oxford are looking to strive to upgrade on Manning, they could do worse than look at Luke Williams, who assisted Martin with Swansea for a year, before taking Notts County up from the National League with 107 points.
Williams is more idealistic than Manning, and his style with a midfield of Cameron Brannagan and Marcus McGuane could be fun to watch – though compensation could be a stumbling block.
Odds correct as of 2023-11-08 15:09 Odds subject to change.
5. Ryan Mason
Mason has been entrusted by both Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou with coaching the first team at Tottenham, after the former midfielder worked his way up through the academy.
As such, there’s the question of whether Mason is prepared to give up a handsomely paid job at Spurs, but he’s previously made no secret of the fact he wants to become a manager, and this would certainly be a route into the industry.
Mason’s positive leadership could be valuable to the Yellows, likewise his high-end contacts, although his stylistic and formational preferences are still to be discerned.
Odds correct as of 2023-11-08 15:09 Odds subject to change.
6. Damien Johnson
A left-field candidate? Perhaps. But Damien Johnson has built up his experience working his way through Blackburn’s youth scene, being part of one of the best academies outside the elite, which speaks volumes for the quality of coaching.
Over the last four years, Johnson has been working with the first team as well as being Head of Player Development, and helped Rovers to three top half finishes in four seasons on a limited budget, with minimal infrastructure.
If the Northern Irishman wants to become a number one, he’s arguably earnt the right to be considered for what he’s been part of over the last eight years.
Odds correct as of 2023-11-08 15:09 Odds subject to change.
7. Craig Short
There’s a world in which the club take their time to deliberate over this next appointment, and Short oversees victories over Leyton Orient, Cheltenham and Bolton in that period.
The 55-year-old might not quite be the profile of Head Coach the club have in mind, but it’s also relevant that this is an in-season appointment, as opposed to a summer one.
As such, if the interim Head Coach can keep the same system that was working under Manning and minimize disruption, it’s plausible that he becomes a more attractive candidate with the team in the thick of a promotion race.
Odds correct as of 2023-11-08 15:09 Odds subject to change.
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