Kelly heads this week's management news
Last updated : 14 April 2006 By Tony Scholes
The news from the Crisp Bowl is hardly surprising, Leicester's upturn in form since Kelly assumed charge from the league's worst manager Craig Levein has been incredible. They were in the bottom three when he stood in and since then only Reading have picked up more points.
Kelly was expected to do the job for two to three weeks, he was then given the job until the end of the season, and now he's got this new contract. They were on the back of six successive defeats when he took the job and they were in serious relegation danger, but they've lost just twice since and are already being talked about as promotion favourites for next season.
Over at Stoke, Johan Boskamp has started to get his own way, and this week his assistant Jan de Koning was sacked after serving two separate suspensions from the club.
Boskamp has fallen out with both de Koning and Director of Football John Rudge over an incident involving tactics during their game at Coventry last November, and he won't even mention Rudge by name. He's had the two of them suspended twice, and both periods have coincided with an upturn in results and this is probably why Stoke have taken sides with Boskamp.
De Koning left with the following words, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Stoke City, and particularly enjoyed working with the players and my contact with the club's fantastic supporters. Clearly, however, things did not work out for me with Johan Boskamp.
“In my opinion I should not have been blamed by anyone for the events which took place at Coventry City last November. I do believe that this incident has unnecessarily been blown up out of all proportion by Johan Boskamp. I wish the club the very best for the future.”
All's not well at Leeds – you know, the club in Yorkshire with the pleasant and patient supporters. Everything was fine recently when they thought they were going to catch Sheffield United and manager Kevin Blackwell was getting a contract extension.
They are going to have to settle for a play off place now and they've turned their attentions on Blackwell, according to Blackwell that is. Today's stories suggest Blackwell won't put up with the threats and abuse and is ready to walk, the Leeds club are suggesting it is one letter. Whichever it is, I don't think we've heard the last of this one.
And that finally takes us onto the Hampshire coast at Southampton where Director of Football Sir Clive Woodward is beginning to get restless at not being team manager. His latest concern is that George Burley could be there for some time and he doesn't want to wait that long for the chance to manage a football team and is looking at the possibility of moving on.
So if there's a duck shooting chairman anywhere who is looking for a manager with credentials in another sport – contact Southampton.
