Michael Carrick new favourite for Swindon return as manager
23 years after a one month loan spell as a Swindon Town player, could Michael Carrick now be set to return to the club as manager?
The former midfielder, 40, is now as short as 1/2 with BetVictor in the next Swindon manager odds.
The Robins are searching for a new boss following the exit of Ben Garner who left the League Two club after their play-off penalty heartache, in order to jump up into League One with Charlton.
Plenty of young coaches have since been linked with the vacancy at the County Ground, including Brighton U23s boss Andrew Crofts (12/1), Fleetwood coach Paul Caddis (12/1), and ex-Walsall manager Matt Taylor (20/1).
Mark Delaney, who recently left his spell as manager of Aston Villa U23s, has also been in the mix and can still be backed at 6/1, while Spurs coach Ryan Mason has drifted out to 20/1.
For the moment at least, all eyes are on former Man Utd caretaker Carrick who is stamped to the top of the betting as the odds-on frontrunner. His move in the market has certainly got tongues wagging in Wiltshire as fans speculate as to whether the ex-England international could be on the cusp of embarking upon a career in management in League Two.
Carrick, who coached at Man Utd under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, got a brief taste for life as a manager last season when he oversaw the Red Devils first team for three games; delivering a win away to Villarreal, a point at Stamford Bridge, then a 3-2 win at home to Arsenal.
However, when it comes to an appointment at Swindon nothing has been confirmed. We’ve already seen a range of managers trade places at the top of the betting, while it’s worth noting that we recently saw Carrick installed as the red-hot favourite for the Lincoln City job, only for Mark Kennedy to be appointed.
Journalist Ryan Walker has tweeted that reports of an appointment at Swindon are false, with the club still considering candidates for the job.
With nothing set in stone, we simply can't rule out the likes of Delaney, Crofts, and Caddis, while there could be other names in the frame.
What we do know is the type of head coach Swindon are after: "We are looking for an individual who will play an expansive and attractive brand of football, develop young players, provide a pathway between the Academy and the first-team and engage with our fans and the local community," the club revealed last week.
"We want someone who is invested in the long-term project at the Football Club, and we are committed to finding that individual.
"Again, we understand the need and the urgency to recruit a new Head Coach with pre-season only a couple of weeks away, and we want to thank all of our fans for their continued support and patience."
Swindon can currently be backed at 14/1 to win League Two next season, while they are priced at 7/2 to get promoted.
