Huge vote of confidence for Cotterill

Last Updated : 08-Oct-2006 by
Served us right, we probably shouldn't laugh at the downfall of others, and it left us for almost three weeks wondering whether we ourselves would be looking for a new manager as Steve was made clear favourite for the job by virtually all of the major bookmakers, and until two days ago that position never wavered.

At one point I saw him at 6/4 on, but as we all speculated about his, and therefore our club's, future the whole thing was met with very little comment from anyone at Burnley Football Club.

Chairman Barry Kilby said there had been no contact at all from the West Midlands club and when asked, Steve just said he knew nothing more than anyone else, and if they were interested in speaking to him then they would probably speak to Kilby.

Some supporters thought he should distance himself from the job, that he should issue some kind of statement saying he wasn't interested, but there seems to be no reason at all why he should have done anything having not been formally approached by them. Over the three week period he's basically, and correctly in my view, kept a dignified silence on the whole issue, instead concentrating on his job of managing the side currently third in the league.

It really has been our main talking point, other than Wayne Thomas and the superb win at Norwich, and there are without doubt fans who would want to see him leave, just as there are those who would prefer him to stay. Over the last three days we decided to get your views on this via our voting poll and we have received in excess of 750 votes in that short time.

Would we prefer him to stay as our manager? Over 700 of you thought so, or in terms of percentages and incredible 93.2% said they wanted him to stay, with 4.2% preferring Steve to leave and 2.5% not caring one way or the other.

And for that massive majority, the last couple of days have brought some very good news, news that Steve Cotterill will not be joining West Bromwich Albion as their new manager. They are going to have to look elsewhere for a replacement for Robson.

I don't think we care who, whether it will be McLeish, Mowbray or anyone else. That only leaves Norwich and Leeds but I've got a quick and easy solution for those two clubs – Worthington can go to Leeds and Blackwell can take the Norwich job.

All solved then, and that leaves Steve Cotterill to get on with managing third place Burnley.