{"id":556347,"date":"2020-07-02T12:28:22","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T16:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=556347"},"modified":"2022-01-01T10:39:43","modified_gmt":"2022-01-01T15:39:43","slug":"david-dunn-is-bookmakers-favourite-to-become-barrow-afcs-next-manager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/07\/02\/david-dunn-is-bookmakers-favourite-to-become-barrow-afcs-next-manager\/","title":{"rendered":"David Dunn Is Bookmaker’s Favourite to Become Barrow AFC’s Next Manager"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Dunn has, this morning, emerged as the overwhelming favourite to take over at Barrow AFC. It was confirmed <\/span>yesterday evening, <\/span>that Barrow would be searching for a new manager. This is because Ian Evatt has left<\/a> the Bluebirds to join Bolton Wanderers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evatt had been strongly linked with the Bolton<\/a> job over<\/span> the past week. Hence, his departure was not too greater a shock for Barrow. This should ensure that the Cumbrian club already have a list of potential candidates in mind. If not, then a virtual trip to SkyBet will provide some.<\/span><\/p>\n

David Dunn Is Bookmaker’s Favourite to Become Barrow’s Next Manager<\/h2>\n

Dunn is the Favourite<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dunn is the overwhelming favourite at 1\/4. This compares with Paul <\/span>Hickingbottom<\/span>, who is second favourite at 12\/1.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a strong case for Dunn’s appointment. He is currently the coach at Blackpool. Dunn, f<\/span>ollowing <\/span>the dismissal of Simon Grayson i<\/span>n February 2020<\/span>, oversaw six games as Blackpool’s caretaker-manager<\/span>. His record was four wins, one draw and one defeat. This was a marked improvement on Grayson’s tally of just one victory in his final twelve games as Blackpool manager.<\/span><\/p>\n

The National League<\/span> have just crowned <\/span>Barrow<\/span> as their champions. This brings a return to the English Football League (EFL),<\/a> where they <\/span><\/span>last played in 1972. <\/span><\/p>\n

Although Barrow are a <\/span>progressive<\/span> club, their success this season was unexpected. In recent years, other clubs have also <\/span>achieved<\/span> a surprise promotion to the EFL. However, a few including York City and Macclesfield Town have struggled to adapt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dunn, before joining Blackpool, was the Under-23s’ assistant coach at Blackburn Rovers. I<\/span>n recent years, <\/span>Barrow and Rovers have formed strong links. L<\/span>oaned to Barrow have been s<\/span>everal of Blackburn’s younger players. Most notably are Matty Platt and Tom White, who were regulars in Barrow\u2019s promotion-winning team of 2019\/20.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the 2015\/16 season, Dunn had a brief spell as manager of Oldham Athletic. However, he was sacked<\/a> in January 2016 after a mere 20 games.<\/p>\n

Other Candidates<\/span><\/h3>\n

Of course, not all favourites win the race. Barrow <\/span>might<\/span> choose to look <\/span>elsewhere<\/span>. Taking Barrow <\/span>through<\/span> their first EFL campaign for 48 years would <\/span>surely<\/span> appeal to most lower league managers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another name on the bookmakers’ list is Sol Campbell. Yesterday, he left Southend United by mutual consent<\/a>. Campbell has plenty of experience both as a player and now, as a manager. He has spent the past two seasons at Macclesfield Town and Southend United.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Campbell took over as a manager, Macclesfield looked <\/span>doomed<\/span> to relegation from League 2. However, he <\/span>successfully<\/span> led them to safety in League 2 thereby proving his doubters wrong.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

He would leave the <\/span>troubled<\/span> Cheshire club last August. Within 2 months, he was appointed manager at Southend United of League 1. Alas, Southend were another struggling club. Campbell could not <\/span>achieve<\/span> the near-impossible and <\/span>Southend’s<\/span> relegation to League 2 was confirmed last month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Barrow are in a far more positive situation, they might be deemed a backward move for Campbell. Rather than return to League 2 management, he has ambitions of becoming a Premiership manager as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

North West Connections<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor is another on the bookmakers’ list. I<\/span>n November 2019, h<\/span>e was appointed United’s manager. They are currently in the National League, so Barrow would be a step up for Challinor.<\/span><\/p>\n

He knows the lower divisions of the EFL having been a player at Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County, among others. Challinor also knows the North West area extremely well, for he spent 8 years as manager of AFC Fylde.<\/span><\/p>\n

He led Fylde to the 2019 National League Play-off Final. However, they lost to Salford City via a disappointing performance. Had Fylde won promotion, they would have become the smallest team in the EFL.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following a disappointing start to the 2019\/20 campaign<\/span>, he was sacked<\/a> by the club i<\/span>n October 2019<\/span>. Many on the Fylde coast felt he was harshly treated, having contributed so much to Fylde’s unbelievable rise from the depths of the non-league pyramid to near <\/span>EFL membership.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim Bentley, the man who c<\/span>oincidentally <\/span>replaced Challinor at Fylde, is rated as a more likely candidate for the Barrow job. Bentley has plenty of League 2 managerial <\/span>experience<\/span>, having spent 8 years as the Morecambe boss. In October 2019, he surprisingly quit Morecambe for the AFC Fylde post. However, <\/span>should their relegation be confirmed, <\/span>he now faces the prospect of guiding the Coasters to a National League return.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Plenty of Experienced Names Available<\/span><\/h3>\n

The previously mentioned Simon Grayson is another who could prove a shrewd appointment for Barrow. He has a wealth of managerial <\/span>experience<\/span> having guided several clubs to promotion from League 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gary Bowyer, who ironically was Dunn’s manager at Blackburn, is another potential candidate. Like Grayson, he counts Blackpool and Bradford City among the clubs he has managed.<\/p>\n

Might Keith Hill b<\/span>e<\/span> the man to replace Evatt? Of course, this would <\/span>effectively<\/span> mean that Barrow and Bolton have swapped managers. Hill left <\/span>Wanderers<\/span> last month when it was announced that the club would not be renewing his contract.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hill guided Rochdale to their first promotion in 41 years when he oversaw their elevation to League 1 in 2010.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without a doubt, 2020\/21 will be a pivotal season for Barrow. Their choice of manager could be the difference between them becoming a future Accrington Stanley or another York City.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>