9:30am Tuesday 10th November 2009
By Andy Naylor
Albion are ready to approach Southend for permission to speak to Steve Tilson as the process of finding a new manager gathers pace.
Gus Poyet and Steve Cotterill were interviewed yesterday and chairman Tony Bloom is now turning his attention to leading contenders currently employed after returning from a business trip to Singapore.
The Argus understands four candidates are at the very top of Bloom’s shortlist. He remains keen on Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins and Motherwell chief Jim Gannon, who is believed to be working without a contract at the Scottish Premier League club.
Tilson’s deal with financially stricken Southend expires at the end of next season. The 43-year-old has guided the Shrimpers to two promotions as he approaches his sixth year in charge at Roots Hall.
Paul Clark believes Southend’s financial problems could persuade Tilson to leave. The former Albion and Shrimpers midfielder said: “Southend may have paid off £2.1 million to the tax man to avoid administration but the position is still precarious.
“I think Brighton and Southend are fairly similar at the moment and from that point of view it probably wouldn’t be a move up.
“But if he’s fed up and Brighton are dangling the carrot of money being available and their new stadium closer then he may be tempted and I could understand that.”
The Argus website revealed yesterday morning that Cotterill, 45, has emerged as one of the frontrunners. The former striker, who had a spell on loan with Albion during his playing career, has been out of work since leaving Burnley in 2007.
He has also managed Stoke and Cheltenham and was Howard Wilkinson’s assistant at Sunderland.
Meanwhile, Darren Ferguson could suddenly become a late contender if history repeats itself. Sir Alex’s son parted company with Peterborough last night after guiding the Championship strugglers to successive promotions.
Fellow Scot Mark McGhee arrived late on the scene after splitting with Millwall to become Albion manager six years ago.
Caretaker Martin Hinshelwood is likely to remain in charge for Sunday’s south coast derby at Southampton if no decision has been made by Friday.
The club removed any uncertainty by confirming Hinshelwood would be taking the team 72 hours before last Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Wycombe, once Steve Coppell had ruled himself out.
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