Villa should ignore Yorke and take aspiring lower league manager

Dwight Yorke’s self proclaimed candidacy for the vacant Aston Villa job makes a mockery of those doing great things lower down the leagues, with some less fashionable names in the betting far more worthy of consideration.

According to the former star striker turned pundit, Yorke is “deadly serious” about replacing Tim Sherwood as the next man in the Villa Park hotseat.

However, as his odds of 50/1 to get the gig suggest, it would be ridiculous if the Premier League club handed the reins to Yorke, who has precisely zero managerial experience, when there are plenty of aspiring gaffers who could excel, if given the chance.

Given Remi Garde’s 4/7 favouritism, it feels highly improbable that Randy Lerner seriously ponders plucking talent outside of the top tier or foreign shores, but off the current list of those supposedly in the reckoning, the below trio stand out.

Justin Edinburgh (Gillingham) @ 16/1

A former Premier League footballer himself, Edinburgh is a manager on the up. In the starkest possible contrast to Yorke, the former Billericay Town, Fisher Athletic, Grays Athletic, Rushden & Diamonds, Newport County and current Gillingham boss has served a very authentic apprenticeship.

Edinburgh returned Newport to the Football League following a 25-year absence before being plucked by the Gils, who are currently top of League One after 15 games under his stewardship.

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink (Burton) @ 25/1

The Burton manager would need no introduction to the average Villa fan, having enjoyed an illustrious playing career. The Dutchman was prolific for Leeds, Chelsea and Middlesbrough and following his managerial debut at Royal Antwerp, Hasselbaink opted to take the reins at Burton in 2014.

Hasselbaink’s been a roaring success at the Brewers, grabbing the League Two title in his first season and boasting a 60 Per cent win ratio to date. Rather than be found out in League One, Burton are just two points behind the Gils at present. It’s clear his players respond exceptionally well to his bubbly personality and respect his hugely impressive playing career.

Gary Rowett (Birmingham) @ 33/1

Although he currently manages their arch rivals, Rowett is another boss making waves and is arguably one step ahead of Hasselbaink, having vacated the Brewers hotseat to take on the Championship strugglers last year. Although the Bromsgrove native had twice been a victim of League Two play-off losses, the Blues were quick to recognise the managerial talents of their former player.

Taking over with Brum second from bottom at the end of October last year, Rowett guided them to 10th by the end of the campaign. Now into his first full season as Birmingham boss, the St Andrews outfit are only five points off Brighton’s breathless early pace in sixth.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.