Next Mansfield Manager Odds

Mansfield Town are searching for a new manager after sacking Graham Coughlan following a winless start to the 2020/21 campaign after nine games. Coughlan would lose 14 games and win just four in his time with the Stags and now, to avoid a long season fighting for survival in the Football League, the League Two outfit are in desperate need for a manager to pick them up.

The former favourite for the job was Paul Heckingbottom, who was most recently manager at Hibernian. ‘Hecky’ is known for his work in his first managerial role, where he guided Barnsley to promotion to the Championship in 2016 as caretaker manager as well as winning the EFL Trophy, which earnt him the job on a permanent basis.

Heckingbottom then led the Tykes to 9th in the table before moving to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in February 2018 but was sacked after just four months as Leeds finished 13th.

The Englishman seems a good appointment for Mansfield, with proven success in the Football League and a history of developing youngsters such as Josh Brownhill, Ivan Toney and Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

‘Hecky’ has moved from the 11/8 favourite to the 18/1 outsider.

Salford City shocked the Football League by sacking Graham Alexander despite sitting fifth in the table and being unbeaten. Alexander achieved Football League status for Salford for the first time in their history, with this fairytale story concluding not long after the club finished 11th in their inaugural season in League Two.

The harsh sacking has left the young manager a wanted man, and the former Scotland international has a point to prove, and a move to Mansfield - a club much higher in the table - could be the perfect place to start.

Alexander has been an outsider throughout the Mansfield manager hunt and remains 18/1 to join the club.

Burton Albion legend Nigel Clough holds with a wealth of experience, having spent 22 years as a football manager, much of it aligns perfectly with Mansfield's current dire straits. Clough guided Burton Albion to the Championship for the first time in the club’s history and has spent a total of 14 years at the club as a manager. This sort of loyalty could provide that stability that Mansfield are crying out for, having had three different managers in the last 18 months.

Clough is yet to manage in League Two, but his experience at a high level could be vital in getting the Stags’ season back on track. In this instance, it may not be a case of whether Mansfield want Clough, but more if Clough would consider dropping down to League Two.

The ex-Derby County manager has moved to the 1/10 favourite for the job and it looks like a matter of time before Clough take the helm at Field Mill.

Paul Cook left his role as Wigan manager at the end of last season following financial trouble at the club and was unlucky as his side finished just two points away from safety and being relegated on the final day of the season despite a 12-point deduction.

Surprisingly, Cook hasn’t been snapped up by a club in the Championship or even League One, so depending on how eager he is to get back to work, Mansfield could pull off a real coup. Cook previously won the League One title with Wigan as well as League Two twice, once with Chesterfield and the other with Portsmouth.

Undoubtedly, the experienced Football League manager is exactly what Mansfield need, but with Clough edging nearer, the time may have past for Cook - he has moved to the 16/1 outsider.

Former Scotland international Gary Caldwell enjoyed success as Wigan Athletic manager in 2016, where he won the League One title with the Latics and in doing so, was awarded with the LMA Manager of the Year Award.

However, Caldwell was sacked in October of the same year and failing to win in four games and leaving the club in 23rd position, the ex-Celtic defender then dropped back down to League One as he took control of Chesterfield but was unable to avoid relegation to League Two and was sacked once again after a poor start to the 2017-18 League Two season.

Like Heckingbottom, Caldwell opted to manage in Scotland and was appointed manager of Partick Thistle, where he guided the Jags to safety, but was sacked the following year with the club second-bottom in the table. Caldwell needs to prove that he can replicate the success he had with Wigan and Mansfield could prove to be the perfect opportunity for him.

The experienced manager has moved from the 3/1 second-favourite for the job and is now a 16/1 outsider to join Mansfield.

By Tom Eaton