Bodin staying at Swindon....

[CP Gull]

It appears that Paul Bodin was Martin Ling's No 1 choice to become his new Assistant and he had approached him to take up the role. Unfortunately though it seems that our interest forced Swindon Town to act in order to retain his services. Bodin had been working on a non contract basis at the club for a number of years that despite the fact that he was briefly employed as Caretaker Manager at the end of last season following Paul Hart's departure. The plan had been for Bodin to return to heading up the Youth/Reserve set up at Swindon but given our interest they appear to have offered him something a bit more meaty which will involve a proper contract and a chance to work with the first team at Swindon - and so Bodin has now decided to stay it seems.

A great shame in my opinion as given their great friendship and the fact that Bodin would have an excellent knowledge of Westcountry football given his work with the youth and reserve sides up there I think they would have made an excellent team.

The good news to come out of that article though, is that it appears that Ling will now be allowed to bring in a non-playing assistant - which he asked for. That would make a lot of sense to me and is a far more professional arrangement than just operating with a Manager and a Player/Coach.

Pure speculation but I wonder whether he might now consider his former teammate and skipper from his Swindon Town playing days ... Shaun Taylor who is I believe currently involved with the youth set up at Exeter?

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/spor ... term_deal/

[Dave]

Disappointing yes, however reassuring in another sense,as you mention above this should at least calm the fears of those who thought that the club were going to force Alex Russell on Ling, this show s that martin Ling is out searching for his own man for an assistant.

Shaun Taylor good call Chris, Shaun was head coach with Elite youth development centre s who now work with Torquay, he left there to take up a full time position with city, I know the guys at Elite speak very highly of Shaun, and he does have connections with ML as you state.

[Richinns]

The hits keep coming!

We need to act quickly - No assistant manager and a thread bare squad. It has been a week since the appointment and was expecting some progress here.

We really cannot be that an attractive proposition if we cannot get a coach to step up to he next level.

Worrying.

[Southampton Gull]

Rich, why worry because a target doesn't materialise? There are plenty of people who will be willing to take the job, I wouldn't be too disheartened yet mate.

[leetufc]

There's no need to worry just yet. I know it's hard not to with no assistant and such a small squad, but I would rather Ling took his time identifying who he wanted as his number 2 and what players he wanted. He needs a no. 2 he can work with so is rightly making sure he makes the correct appointment. Similarly with players he's got to figure out what he's already got in the squad to know what players he needs to add to it. Am much happier he's taking his time making the correct additions than rushing out and signing a flurry of players who aren't worthy or paying over the odds on average squad members.

[Dave]

The H/E online is also linking us to Paul Carden as player assistant manager,intresting name,as a player his main clubs have been Rochdale,Chester,Peterbrough with cameo appearences at some other clubs including Blackpool and Doncaster,before Cambridge,he also has been player assistant manager to Gary Brabin,then worked under Martin Ling.

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/Carde ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[brucie]

Carden is rubbish. Christ if thats the standard we are getting we might as well jack it in now.

[Jeff]

Personally, I just think thats lazy journalism. Just because his old assistant is looking for employment they link him with us.

Of course, I'll have egg on my face if its confirmed, but I'd heard that Aggy was the man who had been sounded out for the job and until I hear otherwise thats where my money would be going.

[CP Gull]

Personally, I wouldn't want Cardin here but I guess the fact that they worked together at Cambridge leads to the inevitable speculation with a job here. But, the reality is that Ling "inherited" Carden as Asst Manager at Cambridge but still felt the need to bring in Jon Schofield at the beginning of last season as part of the manangement team - effectively promoting him above Carden.

As for Boden, this article from the Swindon press includes a quote from Martin Ling confirming that he would have been Ling's first choice it seems ...

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/ne ... ls_switch/

Meanwhile, Ling confirmed he wanted Bodin to be part of his new-look Torquay set-up but conceded his friend would be staying put for now.

“He s at Swindon Town. Swindon Town want Paul to stay there and if Paul wasn t happy at Swindon Town I d be delighted to take him and he knows that,” said the former Town midfielder.

“He s a Swindon Town employee and it looks like it will remain that way.”

Obviously there has been a lot of talk about Alex Russell, I wonder whether he is being considered now as effectively a "replacement" for Bodin, or whether the plan is/was for Aggy to come in as a player/coach in addition to a new Assistant Manager?

[Dave]

lazy journalism,totaly argee very easy to link Carden with the job,my post was not meant to suggest that Carden is the man for the job,more by way of sounding out what other's thought.

I guess by Brucie's reaction that us fans are a bit unsure ,i take it as a ,no,then.

[CP Gull]

Pure speculation but I wonder whether he might now consider his former teammate and skipper from his Swindon Town playing days ... Shaun Taylor who is I believe currently involved with the youth set up at Exeter?

Well it looks as though I called that one right and still hopeful this will happen too .... :~D

Obviously there has been a lot of talk about Alex Russell, I wonder whether he is being considered now as effectively a "replacement" for Bodin, or whether the plan is/was for Aggy to come in as a player/coach in addition to a new Assistant Manager?

[PhilGull]

Well it looks as though I called that one right and still hopeful this will happen too .... :~D

So what are tomorrow night's Euromillion numbers? £105000000 would do nicely right about now!