JOHN McGINLAY: Chairman must make right decision this time

Whatever direction they choose, it’s a big gamble. This club needs to be playing Premier League football, as the chairman has said himself, and the new man won’t have a long time to adjust to the new club. He’s got to hit the ground running.

I’m not pinning my colours to any mast but I think the chairman has got to find someone who has a feel for the club.

We have already seen what appointing a manager who doesn’t connect with the supporters can do, and in that respect you want to bring in someone who’s exactly like Owen.

They need to know what the place is all about, whether that’s someone who’s experienced or younger.

There’s no real room to manoeuvre in the transfer market, at least until January when the window reopens.

And it wouldn’t seem that there is much cash to spend either – because there certainly wasn’t much to splash when Owen was around.

Someone is going to have to get something out of the players that hasn’t been seen this season. They haven’t got close to what they are capable of so far.

It isn’t an easy job because there’s real pressure on you right away to make a success of it.

People are expecting, because they saw inconsistent results under Owen, that the new guy is going to come in and make things better right away. I’m telling you, that’s not always the case.

Of course, I hope he makes a success of things immediately and that we romp to promotion.

I want to see the club back in the Premier League and I think there are players in that squad who can make it happen.

But this is a big call. And I’m willing the powers that be to get it right.

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SATURDAY’S game might well have hinged on a missed penalty, but I think you’ve got to be realistic and accept it was going to take a big turnaround for Owen to stay on in his job.

Chris Eagles missed from the spot and from there we lost the game. Had it gone in, we would have gone into the international break with a bit of breathing space – but how long would it have been before things boiled up again?

I think he would have needed five or six wins on the spin after the Millwall game to win people over again.

Whatever happened this week, I just hope that some of the lads in that dressing room take a good, long, hard look in the mirror this week, because some of them have done nothing.

Owen paid the price, he’s the focal point, and he knew what was at risk, but aside for four or five of those players, I don’t think anyone could say they have been performing to the right levels so far this season.

The manager bears the ultimate responsibility but there are a few players who should be owning up to themselves because they didn’t do his cause any good at all.

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FROM the moment Owen Coyle walked into the club to the moment he left, he acted with class and dignity.

I’m gutted for him that it didn’t work out, and I listened to his interview a few hours after the announcement, which tells you a lot about the man.

I honestly expected him to get some more time. It seemed like there might be a little shuffle round the backroom staff and maybe that Sammy Lee would step up to work more with the first team – which I could understand.

But eventually the owner, Eddie Davies, has made his decision. And it’s his to make because he puts his hand in his pocket to make the club run.

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AS a few people may be aware, I’m returning home after eight fantastic years in the States.

I can honestly say the decision to leave was one of the most difficult I’ve had to make – but more so because it co-incided with Owen leaving his post at Wanderers too.

It was horrible that the two things intertwined, but people should be aware that I resigned my job in Cincinnati officially on Sunday and fully expected him to still be manager when I returned home.

The decision has been made for family reasons. My four boys are already back over in the UK and here it’s just me, my wife and daughter, so it made sense.

I’ve had to do lots of things down the years that didn't necessarily put my family first, but this is one I had to get right, so despite the fact that I’m leaving behind a great job and some fantastic friends, it’s the right thing to do.

I’ve got nothing fixed up, so Tesco might be getting a knock on the door sometime soon.

I’ve had eight marvellous years here.

It was the best job in the world.

I’m proud to say that loads of kids have come through the system and gone on to college but I’m looking forward to the next challenge now, even though I’m not sure what that is going to be as yet.