Manager Race

[Brian Skelton]

Dean Shiels enters race to become next Morton manager according to the Record.

[Boogs49]

Please don't say that word 'Shiels' it's giving me the fear.

[dunning1874]

That record article reads like a planted agent puff piece, to be honest. It's ambiguous in the wording about him leaving Coleraine, leaving open the interpretation that he chose to leave himself when he was actually sacked, and talks up a track record of working with tight budgets when Coleraine had pushed the boat out and gone full-time. Players like Charles Dunne and Declan McManus won't have come cheap and suggest he was working with a comfortably bigger budget there than he'd have here, despite being in a much weaker league overall.

Lots of people thought it was a harsh sacking so I'm not saying he's necessarily a bad manager, but there are some eyebrow raising claims in there.

[DaftTon74]

Any truth that James Mcpake has been interviewed?

[dunning1874]

Hope not.

I don't want any of the unemployed with their last job in the Championship options because I see them all as a considerable downgrade on Imrie, but at least McCabe, Doolan and Murray are all much better than McPake.

If you have comfortably one of the biggest budgets in your division then McPake might get you over the line to promotion, in any other context he'll massively underachieve. We'd be as well voluntarily relegating ourselves.

[Ferguson]

2 hours ago, dunning1874 said:

McCabe, Doolan and Murray are all much better than McPake.

For me, McCabe is hardly more attractive as he was bailed out of relegation by Hamilton’s points deduction and struggled with recruitment over summer after Airdrie’s partnership with Consillium ended, not that it was great the previous season anyway. Doolan is also guilty of not really going anywhere with an expensive squad. Murray would be fine. 

Can’t think of any options that merit a reaction over and above “meh” but I’ll also not be ripping up the season ticket over anyone that’s been mentioned so far.

[Tubes]

The word “race” makes it look like there’s some urgency about it, more like a very slow saunter. Not that bothered as keeps the continuity of Davies there a bit longer. 

Not really seen any outstanding candidates yet and the fact McPake and the likes are still out of a job 12 months after his Dunfermline exit says it all for me. This is a collective board decision and not the chairman? So hopefully it’s done properly, it has to be done properly.

 

[RossMcC1874]

Considering it says applicants from all around the world it would be hilarious if it was someone who we knew nothing about but had coached in the first division of Nigeria or something. 

Something wild like that wouldn't actually surprise me. 

[Hoofballer]

Pretty sure Dundee and Dunfermline fans will have strong opinions on McPake’s managerial “prowess” 

it’s a results business and his record doesn’t support his “credentials”

Theres better out there …..

[Jamie_M]

3 hours ago, RossMcC1874 said:

Considering it says applicants from all around the world

Yeah, let's not get too caught up on that point.

Know we are a bit rusty on how this works seeing as our last boss was the 5th longest serving in the SPFL but that's just the line that is peddled for all vacancies before the appointment of a mongrel from the merry-go-round.

[tolmie perms r bak]

On 12/8/2025 at 10:23 PM, DaftTon74 said:

Any truth that James Mcpake has been interviewed?

I believe he was in attendance last night

[Waverley]

5 hours ago, tolmie perms r bak said:

I believe he was in attendance last night

Hopefully that performance was enough to scare him off.

[Roger McQueen]

I do have huge concerns over who MCT will appoint and it appears that whoever comes in won't be provided with an assistant as Stand Sitter Davies will be part of taking the job. 

Do we actually have confirmation of who the interim manager is? As it stands we have a "technical head coach", a position that has never been explained, but said person is keen to promote themselves as being ready for a manager job and keen to return to management. However, they have no interest in being considered for the vacancy at the club they are employed at. Arrogance? Aware that all is not great in the background? 

Then there is the case of him opting not to be in the dugout at this time and we have the head of youth, a coach and Ali Crawford all taking stints in the dugout. 

Now, I am not saying for one minute I would want Davies to be out manager at any point but it seems we are just a cash cow for him at the moment, we have made up a job role for him and, outside looking in, what are we getting in return? 

 

[TRVMP]

What does a cash cow mean?

[Greacen2000]

41 minutes ago, Roger McQueen said:

I do have huge concerns over who MCT will appoint and it appears that whoever comes in won't be provided with an assistant as Stand Sitter Davies will be part of taking the job. 

Do we actually have confirmation of who the interim manager is? As it stands we have a "technical head coach", a position that has never been explained, but said person is keen to promote themselves as being ready for a manager job and keen to return to management. However, they have no interest in being considered for the vacancy at the club they are employed at. Arrogance? Aware that all is not great in the background? 

Then there is the case of him opting not to be in the dugout at this time and we have the head of youth, a coach and Ali Crawford all taking stints in the dugout. 

Now, I am not saying for one minute I would want Davies to be out manager at any point but it seems we are just a cash cow for him at the moment, we have made up a job role for him and, outside looking in, what are we getting in return? 

 

I don't think it will be MCT making the appointment.  Surely it will be the GMFC board under the purely advisory guidance of our Club Chair

I too would very much like the nature of Davies role to be clarified.  He is in interim charge, but doesn't want to be in the dug out for some reason.  At the time of him joining, I had assumed that the made up job title was to avoid bruising the egos of either him or Imrie (eg - either Imrie didn't want to work under a Director of football/performance director, or Davies didn't want to have the job title of assistant manager).  Now that Imrie is gone, it would be a good time to clarify his position at the club.  The reason given for him ruling himself out of becoming our next manager (loyalty to Imrie) makes no sense to me whatsoever.

29 minutes ago, TRVMP said:

What does a cash cow mean?

presumably he is suggesting that Davies is only here for some easy money

[BishopBrennan]

12 hours ago, Roger McQueen said:

I do have huge concerns over who MCT will appoint and it appears that whoever comes in won't be provided with an assistant as Stand Sitter Davies will be part of taking the job.

MCT won't have any input into the appointment, that is solely the responsibility of the GMFC board. 

[Hands of Cowan]

Tony Docherty and backroom team emptied at Ross County. Hopefully we invite Calum Davidson down for a chat. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but a better option than Shields or McPake.

[Mr.Blue]

27 minutes ago, Hands of Cowan said:

Tony Docherty and backroom team emptied at Ross County. Hopefully we invite Calum Davidson down for a chat. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but a better option than Shields or McPake.

Not a bad shout. Id be happy with him or McCabe

[DaftTon74]

Dean shiels in attendance yesterday.

[dunning1874]

Davidson is a dreadful manager. Had a few excellent cup runs but he consistently underperforms in the league, overspends and recruits terribly. Would relegate us.