Michael Flynn may have been linked with yet another managerial post this, but Newport County fans will be pleased to hear the smart money on who will take over at Bradford City seems to be edging towards Shefki Kuqi.
The 42-year-old former Swansea City, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace striker has offered to stabilise Bradford in exchange for expenses only and is considered the major rival to Flynn for the task of trying to save the Yorkshire club from getting relegated.
Although Kuqi has never managed in England, he has all the necessary qualifications and has coached in Finland over the past three years. He has a backroom team ready to join him with assistant manager Jonathan Hill, a former academy head coach at Manchester United and City.
Flynn’s stock has never been higher after he inspired County to even greater FA Cup heroics this season. He has already been linked to jobs at Shrewsbury Town and Bristol Rovers and now he is in the frame for the role at one of his former clubs.
The job became vacant when David Hopkin quit on Monday, having won only seven of his 35 games in charge and with the club sitting perilously in 23rd place in League One. Flynn made more than 100 appearances for the Bantams in a three year spell.
To add fuel to the fire, Flynn was missing from the pre-match press conference ahead of today’s (Saturday) home League Two clash with Carlisle and his assistant Wayne Hatswell was left to field the inevitable questions in his absence.
“It’s one of his old clubs and he’s been linked with other jobs before – it’s always going to happen. I don’t know anything about it,” said Hatswell
“He’s got a job to do here, and until told otherwise, it’s business as usual. I’m sure it’s nice for him to be linked with other jobs and long may that continue, because that means you’re doing well.
“But first of all we’ve got to think about Newport County and getting this club going again. We need to get points on the board for a good end to the season.”
The 42-year-old former Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace striker Shefki Kuqi has offered to stabilise Bradford in exchange for expenses only and is considered one of the major rivals to Flynn for the task of trying to save the Yorkshire club from getting relegated.
Although Kuqi has never managed in England, he has all the necessary qualifications and has coached in Finland over the past three years. He has a backroom team ready to join him with assistant manager Jonathan Hill, a former academy head coach at Manchester United and City.
Flynn will be hoping his side can recover their poise after their FA Cup antics and push up from 15th to potentially challenge for a play-off place. Carlisle took the points with an injury team winner in a five goal thriller when the two teams met in November and County can’t afford another slip after losing at MK Dobs last weekend.
The Exiles are eight points off Forest Green Rovers and Colchester United in seventh and sixth place respectively, but do have a game in hand. Of their 13 remaining games, seven of them are at home.
“There are still a lot of points to play for and we’re optimistic, but also realistic. We need to put back-to-back wins together and probably win three of four on the trot,” added Hatswell.
“We’re at the bottom of the play-off pack, so no-one outside the club probably thinks we can get there. Seven of the games are at home and we’ve got a lot to play for.
“We’ve got to hang in there and see where we end up. If we do miss out on the play-offs then rest assured, we’ll have given it a good try.
“It’s the business end of the season and you want to be going right to the wire – that’s what we want to try and achieve really. We just want to stay in there and give ourselves a fighting chance.
“We’ve got to play near enough the top seven at home, and it is a fortress for us. We need to make sure we pick up points at home and then hopefully in the away games.
“The momentum from the home games mean we can go to places like Northampton and Colchester and nick a result that will give everyone a lift. We targeted nine wins before the MK Dons game so that will stay the same.”
