Oxford United boss Chris Wilder favourite to land Coventry manager's job

8:00am Monday 3rd September 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Mark Edwards, Sports Editor. Call me on 01865 425451

Chris Wilder’s face says it all during Oxford’s defeat at York on Saturday – his side’s first loss in League Two this season Chris Wilder’s face says it all during Oxford’s defeat at York on Saturday – his side’s first loss in League Two this season

CHRIS Wilder is the hot favourite to take over as Coventry City manager.

The Oxford United boss’s odds were yesterday slashed to 5-4 to replace Andy Thorn in the hot-seat at the Ricoh Arena, having been as high as 50-1 last week.

The Sky Blues are understood to be preparing to make an official approach to Oxford for permission to speak to their manager.

And it appears United chairman Ian Lenagan will have a battle on his hands to keep Wilder, with npower League Two club Chesterfield also reportedly interested in trying to lure the 44-year-old away from the Kassam Stadium to fill their vacant manager’s position.

Richard Shaw is in temporary charge at Coventry following the dismissal of Thorn last week.

But while he was fancied by many to land the job on a permanent basis, the Sky Blues’ disappointing 1-0 defeat at Crewe on Saturday has increased speculation that they will look elsewhere for their next manager.

And Wilder ticks many boxes, with the cash-strapped club having said that they need a manager who is happy to work with a restricted budget – as United’s boss did when he first took over – as well as somebody who has good knowledge about the lower leagues.

Those factors, along with the terrific progress that Oxford have made under Wilder during his nearly four years in charge, has alerted clubs of his capabilities.

Wilder, who joined United in December 2008 and signed a new three-year deal in September 2010, would not comment when asked about the rumours last night.

Under his stewardship, the U’s have risen from the depths of the Conference to the upper echelons of League Two.

They topped the table going into Saturday’s match at York, but a 3-1 defeat – their first league reverse of the season – leaves them third.

Wilder was happy with his side’s display at York, but frustrated that individual errors ended their 100 per cent start to the campaign.

He said: “It’s nine points out of 12, but it should have been 12 out of 12.

“I don’t want to take anything away from York, but we really beat ourselves up.”

Despite the setback, United remain just one point off the top of the table.

Wilder said: “We have to take it on the chin and move on. “We weren’t jumping around when we won the first three games and we’re not going to all of a sudden destroy our beliefs now.”

Comments(24)

Unitedwestand81 says...
8:22am Mon 3 Sep 12

Personally I hope Wilder stays but if he decides it's time to move who are we to stand in the way of his career.
Good luck and thank you for the memories and everything you've done in turning around our great club.

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AylesburyOx says...
8:44am Mon 3 Sep 12

I don't have a problem with Wilder going it's who we'd get to replace him, especially as we really need to go up this time round.
Personally and I've been banging on about this for years, I'd get Paul Tisdale from Exeter; he knows how to build a side and win playing attractive football and understanding the need to change tactics when something isn't working.

I'd be happy with Wilder staying but something tells me the deal has already been done now Lenagan is in charge.

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camden says...
8:49am Mon 3 Sep 12

Unitedwestand81 wrote:
Personally I hope Wilder stays but if he decides it's time to move who are we to stand in the way of his career.
Good luck and thank you for the memories and everything you've done in turning around our great club.
I agree totally. I am sure Chris Wilder has ambitions to manage at as high a level as is posssible and the potentials at Coventry with their 30,000 plus stadium are obvious compared with what Oxford have to offer.
I just hope Oxford were canny enough to tie him up to a contract with a large buy out clause thus bringing much needed funds to hopefully replace him with someone of equal abilities.

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dave from witney says...
9:13am Mon 3 Sep 12

camden wrote:
Unitedwestand81 wrote:
Personally I hope Wilder stays but if he decides it's time to move who are we to stand in the way of his career.
Good luck and thank you for the memories and everything you've done in turning around our great club.
I agree totally. I am sure Chris Wilder has ambitions to manage at as high a level as is posssible and the potentials at Coventry with their 30,000 plus stadium are obvious compared with what Oxford have to offer.
I just hope Oxford were canny enough to tie him up to a contract with a large buy out clause thus bringing much needed funds to hopefully replace him with someone of equal abilities.
If there is a large buy out clause, then Wilder will not be going to Coventry, they have less money than us. He has done quite well for us in that he brought us back into the league, but he clearly has limitations, If he goes, then for me it's no great loss.

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LeagueOneOx says...
9:15am Mon 3 Sep 12

Wilder has done superb for OUFC
and after initially steadying the ship with the club on the brink of Administration, got us promoted out of the Blue Square and I'm proved us further despite a tight budget.

If he goes to Coventry he will be a good appointment. His qualities are shear hard work, honesty,superb preparation, excellent organisation, a motivated team and his team try to play.He demands players sweat blood and anyone shirking their responsibilities will be out. he is no stranger to working under tough financial constraints but he gets on with it and has earned respect.

He would go to the Ricoh seemingly with no pretentions nor baggage either
and they would appear to need a hard working young manager who knows the lower leagues and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of players.

If Chris goes I say thank you and good luck. You deserve it.

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thame-yellow says...
9:27am Mon 3 Sep 12

To mark edwards.
Can not believe this . A person is around the club all the time should know.
The Sky Blues do not need to make official approach to Oxford for permission to speak to their manager. As cw had a interview last week. He ask the club if he could aply for the job and then got his wish and chatted last week on his day off. Even if he do's not get now his heart is not in the club no more so get rid.

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badger86 says...
9:39am Mon 3 Sep 12

if you do go Chris, you've been the best manager we have had for the last 15 years and thank you for leaving us a good 30 places higher up the football pyramid from when you took over! Let's appoint someone like him again. None of the Graeme Rix types, someone who is young, hungry to succeed and has a good understanding of the lower leagues

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BigOx22 says...
9:58am Mon 3 Sep 12

Well it wasn't unexpected news seeing as we got battered 3-1 on saturday. Went back to our old ways, throwing on all strikers and thinking its going to score us goals. Andy Scott is still looking for work I am lead to believe. He knows the club and the passion of the fans. Give him another chance at the club. No one else out there we can get, I am pretty sure Pep won't be joining! Roll on Wednesday might be Wilders last game and he can sign off with a win.

COYY

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bigchet says...
10:06am Mon 3 Sep 12

will be sorry to see cw go if it does happen, like all fans i have not agreed with everything he has done but we are certainly much better placed now than when he took over so good luck to him whatever happens.

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The Good Ship Hardy says...
10:16am Mon 3 Sep 12

Coventry have massive financial problems. My son who is from Oxford originally but lives and works there. They are in dispute with the stadium's owners about the amount of annual rent, they have no intention in paying it at this moment in time. Like Portsmouth have seen, the threat of administration looms and then the loss of points. Stay where you are I would say, big risk admittedly but isn't moving at any time one ?

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oldun says...
10:41am Mon 3 Sep 12

fingers crossed - that he gets it

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adlibber says...
12:24pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Can't say I'd be upset at thought of CW leaving - He rightly deserves to be remembered and praised as the man who got the club back into Football League but since then he's got stuck in a mindset that hasn't pushed the club forward enough. I agree with those who suggest we look at other lower league managers or even non league managers doing well with no budget. There's plenty out there who would jump at the chance of managing Oxford. If CW is going to go this would be the time to disappear giving a new manager a bit of time to shape the team and push on.

I've been a critic of CW since last season's failure but I won't forget his achievements either. I hope he is successful in his new job.

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support your local team says...
12:42pm Mon 3 Sep 12

I think those with very short memories who have been very quick with criticism and bile are quite likely to get their wish.
Sadly you have to ponder why other clubs might be interested in our manager. Could it be that the facts suggest he's done a good job?
I think we are on the cusp of further progression in the league and changes in personnel can only damage this ion my opinion.
If he goes good luck to him....if he stays I hope our fans will show a little more patience.

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support your local team says...
12:42pm Mon 3 Sep 12

I think those with very short memories who have been very quick with criticism and bile are quite likely to get their wish.
Sadly you have to ponder why other clubs might be interested in our manager. Could it be that the facts suggest he's done a good job?
I think we are on the cusp of further progression in the league and changes in personnel can only damage this ion my opinion.
If he goes good luck to him....if he stays I hope our fans will show a little more patience.

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adlibber says...
2:45pm Mon 3 Sep 12

'bile' CW has done an ok job with a considerably higher budget than most clubs in league two - but last year was an abject failure. CW had plenty of time to address the run of poor form and at least cement a play off place but he didn't and no win in last 7 games cost us dearly. Lenagan knows this which is perhaps why he went public stating that promotion was expected this year. Maybe CW realises that the pressure might be too much to handle I don't know but I totally agree that promotion this year is vital.

As for patience I think fans have been amazing home and away since coming back into the league but if we can't achieve what Dag&Red (before they got relegated) and Stevenage found easy enough to do on far less resources then we need to ask why.

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brackley bob says...
3:36pm Mon 3 Sep 12

It’s just a hoax started by Di Canio to try and destabilise us before Weds game (remember the Beano stuff last year?)…

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New Manor rename says...
6:38pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Depths of the conference to the top of league 2? We were always there or there abouts in the conference and we have only played 4 games this year. Basically, we have had one promotion in his 4 years at the club. Tie this to his tactical decisions (defend the lead and nearly always mess it up, 4-3-3, 4-3-3, 4-3-3) then he will not be greatly missed by me. Who to replace him, John Gregory, Gary Megson to name but 2 and isn't Harry Redknapp after a job!!!????

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martico1 says...
7:05pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Come on, oldun and adlibber et al: give it a break: badger86 is dead right, and haven't seen you suggest anyone who will do better. It will be a tough call to get someone who matches CW in many areas: OK tactics not always right, but then whose are? Nigel Adkins was a hero for 85 minutes yesterday, nearly got it right - suppose you'd sack him too?!

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karatavuk says...
7:49pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Wilder's face on the photo says it all
"I hope this doesn't ruin my chances of getting the Coventry job"

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knowall999 says...
8:12pm Mon 3 Sep 12

camden wrote:
Unitedwestand81 wrote:
Personally I hope Wilder stays but if he decides it's time to move who are we to stand in the way of his career.
Good luck and thank you for the memories and everything you've done in turning around our great club.
I agree totally. I am sure Chris Wilder has ambitions to manage at as high a level as is posssible and the potentials at Coventry with their 30,000 plus stadium are obvious compared with what Oxford have to offer.
I just hope Oxford were canny enough to tie him up to a contract with a large buy out clause thus bringing much needed funds to hopefully replace him with someone of equal abilities.
Coventry pay £1.2 million PA for use of the stadium,they a ctually own FA much the same as Oxford but they are worse off cos they have to pay bigger wages....all in all they are forked and its looking increasingly likely they will go bust....Wilder would be insane to go there.

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adlibber says...
8:12pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Martico - I can't see anything wrong with my view of CW so not really sure what you expect. Do I need to suggest alternatives? I'd leave that to Lenagan as he'll be paying the wages. CW has run out of ideas in my view and his fingers crossed plan A approach these days will not offer the consistency we need to get out of this division. You seem ok with last years desperate failure from a position of strength but I'm not. CW blew it because of his indecisions and inability to get his teams to hold a lead or recover from going a goal or two down. As for your Adkins analogy that's just daft. If CW stays he needs to change his view and react positively when things go wrong and not repeat same mistakes. On a lighter note I've just seen Dick Kanio's hilarious outburst on Sky where he further humiliates a young player and insults fans. Swindon really do deserve him.

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support your local team says...
10:18am Tue 4 Sep 12

adlibber wrote:
'bile' CW has done an ok job with a considerably higher budget than most clubs in league two - but last year was an abject failure. CW had plenty of time to address the run of poor form and at least cement a play off place but he didn't and no win in last 7 games cost us dearly. Lenagan knows this which is perhaps why he went public stating that promotion was expected this year. Maybe CW realises that the pressure might be too much to handle I don't know but I totally agree that promotion this year is vital.

As for patience I think fans have been amazing home and away since coming back into the league but if we can't achieve what Dag&Red (before they got relegated) and Stevenage found easy enough to do on far less resources then we need to ask why.
Quoting Dag And Red + Stevenage is weak. The facts tells us that well supported and managed clubs ideally married to a decent player budget will succeed. There are exceptions but thats only what they are..
I agree the match support has been good but thats because since CW has been in charge the club has been riding high. But you only have to look at some forums to realise that there are some very vocal morons who jump on every set back to call for CW to go.
Swindon were promoted as champions last season - why? PDC had a good budget and used it to good effect (even though he is a fruitcake).

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adlibber says...
7:37pm Tue 4 Sep 12

Have to disagree re Stevenage etc becasue they managed what we haven't on far less budget,gates,better management and hungrier players. Same with Crawley. And both Crawley&Stevenage bosses have made forward moves in their careers thanks to their impressive achievements. I think CW isn't at that level yet, maybe he'll get there but sometimes a change suits both club and manager. One thing is sure another year in this awful division isn't acceptable.

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Simon84 says...
10:08pm Tue 4 Sep 12

LeagueOneOx wrote:
Wilder has done superb for OUFC
and after initially steadying the ship with the club on the brink of Administration, got us promoted out of the Blue Square and I'm proved us further despite a tight budget.

If he goes to Coventry he will be a good appointment. His qualities are shear hard work, honesty,superb preparation, excellent organisation, a motivated team and his team try to play.He demands players sweat blood and anyone shirking their responsibilities will be out. he is no stranger to working under tough financial constraints but he gets on with it and has earned respect.

He would go to the Ricoh seemingly with no pretentions nor baggage either
and they would appear to need a hard working young manager who knows the lower leagues and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of players.

If Chris goes I say thank you and good luck. You deserve it.
Superb preparation are own chairman and owner critiscised are lack of fitness at the end of last season. Surely that isn't superb preparation if we were unfit.

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