At the beginning of a New Day.......

[broomfield]

Is this the dawning of a new era or yet more delay from our Board??

[land_of_bo]

AF + USA = Wait

[overthehill]

Rome, Nero, Burns, Fiddle comes to mind.
 

[lambourn red]

It is all getting a bit boring now, I hope Mr F has worked out what to do if the other club refuse.

[Samdy Gray]

Looking like Byrne could still be in charge on Saturday:

CARETAKER boss Dave Byrne admits Town now find themselves in a scrap for survival at the foot of League One as the search for a new manager drags on into a fifth week.

With chairman Andrew Fitton still locked in talks to bring his first choice candidate to the County Ground, Byrne insists a speedy resolution to the recruitment process would give everyone at the club a huge lift.

The Advertiser understands former Walsall boss Richard Money remains high on Fitton’s wish-list, with Sheffield United midfielder Gary Speed and Nottingham Forest chief Colin Calderwood also believed to have been interviewed.

Saturday’s 1-0 reverse at rock bottom Crewe was Swindon’s ninth league game without a win however, and Byrne admits whoever takes the reins will face a stiff challenge to secure Town’s League One status.

“Today was a reality check,” said Byrne after his side’s defeat in Cheshire.

“The players know that unless they go out and improve dramatically, it's going to be a relegation battle from now till the end of the season.

“Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to get real. You only have to look at the table.

“A new manager comes in and the spirits are lifted.

“But I don’t think we need the spirit lifted - we just need a bit of luck, and get back to how we were playing.

“We had some good performances, but today was the worst since I have taken over.

“It’s four draws and two losses - it doesn’t sound too bad but when you add up the points it’s dreadful.

“We need to improve, it’s as simple as that.

“If the players in the team don’t improve, the new manager will need to go and strengthen in the January window.”

Fitton has already given Byrne permission to highlight any potential transfer targets, but his main priority remains the appointment of Maurice Malpas’s successor.

The County Ground chief flies out to America for a business engagement this afternoon, and admits a successful resolution before then is unlikely.

“We are still hoping to secure his services, but it’s looking less likely from his club’s position,” Fitton said.

“They have been reticent about entering into negotiations with us at all.

“We are still trying to resolve things quickly, but I can’t really say any more at this stage.”

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindontown/news/3976532.Byrne_admits_Swindon_face_relegation_scrap/

[Samdy Gray]

And he still hasn't chosen his man anyway:

Swindon Town chairman Andrew Fitton has revealed that there is still more than one candidate in the running to become the new Swindon Town manager.
Reports over the weekend suggested that Newcastle Academy director Richard Money had been offered the job and that agreeing a compensation package with the Magpies was all that remained to be finalised before an announcement could be made.
Fitton, however, told the Daily Press that the job has yet to be offered to anyone – although the shortlist of four has been reduced to three after a failure to agree teems with the club of one of the candidates.
Money has been interviewed for the role and could still be unveiled later this week – although Fitton refused to confirm or deny this when asked directly.
It is understood that Fitton believes any of the three candidates would be an 'excellent' appointment and that the final decision will be dependent on the compensation terms demanded by the clubs in question.
And the Town chief was insistent that reports suggesting that a final decision had already been made on Maurice Malpas' successor were 'premature'.
"I don't want to talk about individual cases," said Fitton. "All I can say is that the job hasn't been offered to anyone at this stage.
"There is still more than one candidate who could be offered the job although the shortlist has been reduced over the weekend."
The Daily Press understands that the candidate now almost certainly out of the running is Sheffield United midfielder Gary Speed.
The former Welsh international was interviewed last week and was prepared to call time on his playing career to take up the vacant managerial position at the County Ground. The Blades, however, are understood to be demanding a substantial six-figure transfer fee to release the midfielder and the Town board are unwilling to agree to those terms. Town are expected to hold further talks with the Blades hierarchy today in a bid to resurrect a possible deal, but it is believed the chances of Speed becoming the new manager are now slim.
Fitton, meanwhile, embarks on a business trip to America later today but is keen to have a new man in place before Yeovil arrive at the County Ground on Saturday.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/sport/swindontown/Swindon-Town-job-finalised/article-546625-detail/article.html

[overthehill]

Is it all down to him then? What are the other board members up to?
I know I am thick but with the position we are in surely it is time to get things sorted out.
Byrne will have us relegated at this rate before anything is done.

[Batch]

My opinion is that we will be in a worse position taking 4 weeks to appoint the wrong man than taking 6 weeks to appoint the right one.

[swindon-chap]

“We are still hoping to secure his services, but it’s looking less likely from his club’s position,” Fitton said.

“They have been reticent about entering into negotiations with us at all. "

IMO that means it isn't Money - Because he has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave for a Managerial job, so there wouldn't be any reticent from Newcastle with regards to negotiations. I have a feeling it could be Speed now.

[Nemo]

Adver reckons Speed is out of the running, so it'll probably be him.

[DV]

I think we should just appoint Blair Sturrock and hope it runs in the family.

[pauld]

My opinion is that we will be in a worse position taking 4 weeks to appoint the wrong man than taking 6 weeks to appoint the right one.

Nods vigorously. Looks like the Adver aren't quite so cocksure of their Saturday story any more. Ooops!

[jimbob]

My opinion is that we will be in a worse position taking 4 weeks to appoint the wrong man than taking 6 weeks to appoint the right one.

my sentiments exactly...we're looking for stability and I have faith in Mr Fitton making the right appointment...he aint gonna listen to our fans bleating on that he is taking too long and the right appointment will see us out of trouble imho

[DV]

My opinion is that we will be in a worse position taking 4 weeks to appoint the wrong man than taking 6 weeks to appoint the right one.

of course that makes the assumption one of the applicants out there is 'the right one'

[overthehill]

Or more to the point, we may get "a right one".