COLIN Todd has drawn up a short-list of candidates as he looks for a new right hand man in the wake of the shock departure of Ian Porterfield.

The former Chelsea, Sheffield United and Aberdeen boss quit at the weekend, 24 hours before relegated Wanderers played their final Premiership match at Arsenal.

Porterfield, who was not available for comment at his Surrey home today, is understood to have cited 'personal reasons' for his decision to leave Burnden after just four months.

His contract was due to expire at the end of the season in any event and there had been speculation that he may not continue in the role of chief coach which he took up in January following the sacking of Roy McFarland.

Todd says he will not rush into a new appointment. He is determined to find the right man to forge a partnership which will provide the drive and leadership necessary to fashion Wanderers into a major force in next season's Endsleigh League promotion campaign. The Burnden boss explained: "It was entirely Ian's decision. His contract here was only up to the end of the season but he decided to call it a day."

On the question of a successor, he added: "The last time I was looking for a coach I didn't have a great deal of time. On this occasion I have time to put some names together."

Stockport County are keeping tabs on Wanderers' Northern Ireland international Aidan Davison.

Edgeley Park boss Dave Jones has checked on the Burnden keeper, who could be a transfer target in the close season after losing his place as understudy to Keith Branagan following the £300,000 deadline-day signing of Gavin Ward. But County could face stiff competition from their Division Two rivals Blackpool, where Davison's former Bolton teammate Phil Brown is No 2.

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