Applications from near and far for vacant Alloa Athletic post
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A 5-0 Scottish Cup defeat at Dumbarton last night may have been the latest in a string of difficult results for Alloa Athletic, but help might be just around the corner.
Applications have been arriving thick and fast to claim the vacant manager’s position at Recreation Park, following Danny Lennon’s departure earlier this week.
The club sit six points adrift at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Championship, and while they’re currently 1/4 to go down this season, there’s still well over half the season left to stage a fightback.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, Alloa Chairman Mike Mulraney revealed the post is attraction plenty of attention: “There’s been an enormous response already from all over the world.”
Already inundated with ‘dozens’ of applications, Mulraney received four more even while the club were playing last night.
Interest in the role has come from afar as Africa, but the Alloa chief won’t disclose any details yet.
“We never comment on front runners or any runners at Alloa and I think it’s important to keep who’s in the race very quiet, because some guys who have shown interest could be with other clubs or still playing.”
One contender who is still playing and fancies the role is Michael Chopra.
The former Newcastle and Sunderland striker helped Athletic avoid the drop last season, but now 31, is perhaps beginning to look beyond his playing days.
“Yes I’m interested,” he told BBC Scotland. “I want to try and help the club as much as possible.”
In a lengthy career Chopra has found himself under the leadership of the great Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle, and the fiery Roy Keane at Sunderland, in addition to experienced hands such as Dave Jones at Cardiff plus Paul Jewell and Mick McCarthy at Ipswich.
“I’ve worked under some good managers and learned a lot from them. I’m sure I could pass on my experience to the players I’m playing with.”
“I know what gets said in the dressing room – I can see it and I hear it. I know what the lads want and I’m pretty sure I could do a good job.”
Alloa’s first league encounter since Lennon’s departure sees them head to Livingston in a bottom of the table clash, and Athletic are 3/1 to win at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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