Five bosses who'd be better for Notts County than Sven

"Wanted: Old, yet attractive, football club seeks high profile appointment to realise dreams, ambitions and enjoy good times. Money no object."

And thus, Sven-Goran Eriksson answers Notts County’s plea for a big name appointment as the league’s oldest football club looks for the right man to lead them to, er, League One.

The Magpies are newly flushed with cash after being taken over by Munto Finance, the Middle Eastern consortium, and have clearly decided that Sven, whose last experience of lower league football was when he led Degerfors to the third division title in Sweden, is the man to take them to the promised land.

It’s a bizarre appointment, but, as Barney Ronay in the Guardian points out, one that may just work and McParland and Sven could be a natural fit.

On the other hand, as I’ve already said elsewhere, you don’t need an international class manager to escape from the bottom tier of English football.

Sven is an expensive gamble at this level, and Notts County would be better off taking a slightly less expensive gamble with a more experienced big name or a hungry young manager.

So, if not Sven as Director of Football and Ian McParland as manager, who should Munto have chosen to spearhead the first stage of Notts County’s charge towards the Premier League, via Leagues One, Two and the Championship. Here’s twofootedtackle’s suggestions.

1. Gary Brabin

The much-travelled midfielder recently left Cambridge United after a series of boardroom disputes with perennial manager-sacker and U’s chairman George Rolls. Yet Brabin’s just the type of manager that would fit the bill at County.

He’s only been in the dugout for two years, but in that time he led Southport into the Conference North playoffs at the first time of asking, before moving to Cambridge and came within a whisker of snatching the Conference title from Burton Albion, before losing to Torquay in the playoff final.

Brabin is young and ambitious and has already shown that he can handle stepping up a level. Given a decent budget, the former nightclub bouncer would have the drive to match Munto’s cash.

2. Peter Taylor

The former England caretaker may have tarnished his reputation at Crystal Palace and his Stevenage side choked badly in the playoff run-in two seasons ago. But he bounced back with Wycombe last season, guiding the Chairboys to automatic promotion to League 1.

Taylor also did much to set Hull on their way to their climb to the Premier League and knows the bottom divisions inside out. Wycombe currently have a few boardroom issues and Taylor may be tempted by a crack at guiding County up the leagues.

3. Martin Ling

Currently in the frame for the vacant Cambridge position, Ling managed Leyton Orient for five years. During that time he guided them to promotion from League 2 and did an impressive job keeping the O’s free to relegation on very limited funds.

Most Orient fans felt the former Exeter, Southend and Swindon player had gone as far as he could with the club, but his record at Brisbane Road was impressive.

Ling has also done some scouting for Hibs and has an eye for a good player. Remains to be seen how he’d manage with a larger budget but he’d be a good bet to guide the Magpies to promotion.

4. Sammy McIlroy

The former Manchester United player is one of football’s lower league characters and has created a astonishing sense of togetherness wherever he’s managed.

His achievements on guiding Macclesfield to back-to-back promotions is one of the most impressive feats of management in recent years, and since taking Morecombe into the league, he’s made sure the Shrimps have held their own against bigger teams.

McIlroy may have taken Morecambe as far as they can go and would create a real buzz if he moved to County. And, like Eriksson, he has international experience having done a very creditable three year stint in charge of Northern Ireland.

5. Mark Stimson

The former Newcastle defender's record in non-league speaks for himself. He came so close to leading Grays to league football in their first season in the Conference, and has a promotion and two FA Trophies in the cabinet from his time in Essex.

Stevenage would have surely got promoted had he not jumped ship to Gillingham, where’s he’s had somewhat of a mixed time. Although the Gills were relegated under his watch, he had inherited a mess of a team and bounced back at the first time of asking.

Stimson has an uneasy relationship with the Priestfield crowd and isn’t adverse to jumping to a better offer. With his lower league contacts and drive, he would be a perfect fit for Notts County.