Five potential picks for Cheltenham's new head coach

A few names have already been thrown around the rumour mill in the club’s search for a new head coach. Inundated with applications, the board are keeping their coaching cards close to their chests with little being spilled to the public. All we know is they will be a young and upcoming new manager, so all we can do is speculate, and speculate we shall.

From random people on Twitter to the odds on websites we will not name, here are some of the potential managers and what they’ve done to have their name in the conversation.

RUSSELL PENN

In accordance with “one former player did well, so let’s do that again” our first entry is current Kidderminster Harriers boss and former robin Russell Penn. The 36 year old played over 100 games in Gloucestershire and has been at the Harriers helm since 2020 but has failed to win the club a much longed for promotion. Penn must be given credit for returning Elliot Bonds a completely different player, with the midfielder apparently judged to be National League North level at the start of his loan and becoming one of League One’s finest at the end.

Penn suits the young and upcoming aspect but may see his longevity in the sixth tier as a hurdle to his application, if an application went in at all. With former Cheltenham players such as Omari Sterling-James and Amari Morgan-Smith under his current tutelage, Penn is no stranger to Cheltenham and could be in the running, but is not one of the favourites.

WADE ELLIOTT OR RUSSELL MILTON

Throwing two into one, Wade Elliott and Russell Milton both served under Michael Duff in the running to his departure with few in Cheltenham’s history being as devoted as Milton. Milton himself is the current interim boss, a role he has held on numerous occasions, but looks unlikely to be handed the reigns full time with the club looking for an external replacement.

It is also unknown as to whether or not Elliott will join Duff at Barnsley or remain at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium, but he has given little indication to be in the running for the top job with an aforementioned external candidate likely. Another current employee mentioned by fans is Director of Football Mickey Moore, but his job is far too dissimilar for him to be in the running to take over from his former colleague.

JOHN EUSTACE

This spot was originally taken by Michael Appleton. The former Lincoln City boss was favourite if you believe the odds but was announced as the new Blackpool head coach on Friday, certainly ruling him out. We pointed out that Appleton’s win percentage at Lincoln was close to, but not quite as good as, Duff’s at Cheltenham with Appleton winning 55 of his 143 games (38.5%) while Duff remarkably won 82 of 203 (40.4%). John Eustace, most recently assistant manager at QPR, boasts 53.40% win percentage from 103 games as Kidderminster Harriers boss, Penn's current team, whom he left in 2018.

Eustace led the 'non-league Barcelona' to two play-off campaigns as well as the FA Cup First Round but has also been linked with the Birmingham City job (knowing our luck, he'll be announced as their manager tomorrow) which holds him in good light with Championship interest. Eustace is also the assistant manager of Northern Ireland under Stephen Kenny, a role he held alongside his QPR job, and plays an open and exciting brand of football.

GRANT MCCANN

My personal pick, but unlikely, Grant McCann is another road down the former player route and has shown his ability at this level, having won the League One title with Hull City (albeit with a larger budget) and having led clubs in the Championship too. McCann is still only 42 and played almost 200 league games for Cheltenham, with the former midfielder retaining the accolade of our record transfer still.

McCann is currently in the top job at Peterborough and may look to steer Posh back to the second tier at the first time of asking, something he has achieved before, so bringing him to Whaddon Road may be a tall order and beyond our means at the current time. Add in the fact Posh haven't made any mention of any club's coming in to ask permission to speak to McCann, it could be but a distant dream.

Who do you want to be the new Head Coach?

• Russell Penn
• Wade Elliott
• Russell Milton
• Grant McCann

See All Options

With the new Head Coach to be announced in the next two weeks, we can only bide our time and wait to see who David Bloxham and the gang bring in to solidify our third tier slot.