Who will be next Bees boss?

With things settling down after a crazy week-and-a-bit, I thought it would be a good time to cast my eye over the runners and riders in the race for the greatest job in football (Is that right? – ED).

First up, let’s get some of the sillier suggestions out of the way.

Former Chelsea and Leeds United striker, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, has been mentioned in dispatches.

He was in attendance at Griffin Park for the Plymouth match and, thus, a fanciful rumour has sprung up linking him to the job - I find the idea that he’d either want it or be considered for it as funny as that chant about him looking like “a fat Eddie Murphy”.

Equally unappealing is the prospect of having Dennis Wise as our next manager. At one point he was installed as the bookmakers favourite for the post but this nasty midget has ruled himself out of contention, and I’m delighted to hear it.

Other more likely names have been put forward as possible candidates and I mentioned the other week that Steve Coppell or Gary Johnson would be my preferred options.

The idea that Coppell might want to make a return to football management after his aborted spell at Bristol City earlier in the season might seem more ludicrous than an EastEnders plotline, but there is nothing wrong with dreaming a little dream, is there?

More realistically, I still reckon Gary Johnson wouldn’t be a bad shout – he has a wealth of experience and, most importantly, his teams always play football the right way.

Andy Scott denounced “tippy tappy football” but anyone who was wowed by Arsenal versus Barcelona on Wednesday night could surely only draw one conclusion - that playing a simple, passing game is the only ethos worth subscribing to.

It is this question of style that puts me off a sentimental reunion with Martin Allen. Many fans seem keen for Mad Dog to return but I’m not sure it would be a sensible option.

Some of my best memories of being a Bees supporter are from the Martin Allen era, but the football we played under his stewardship was similar in style to what we had under Scotty - in other words, it was about as sophisticated as Kerry Katona.

I can’t write about potential Bees managers without a mention of Nicky Forster who has been doing a sterling job as caretaker gaffer.

He really has got the team playing relaxed, entertaining football and with three winnable home games on the horizon, he has a great opportunity to make the job his own.

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