Ward says his search for an assistant manager may take longer to fill than anticipated. Ward had hoped to have a new man in place in time for the start of pre-season, but Ward said: "It may run on a little bit past June 20. I've spoken to a couple of lads that I had in mind and those ones can't happen, so it is a case of moving on quickly. I haven't got first-choices or anything like that, but it is important I run the rule over more than one candidate. It is not a big problem because we have the likes of Marcus Stewart, Mark Hammond and Phil Kite to help out with the organisational side of things until we make an appointment. I'd rather take my time and make the right decision as oppose to rushing it and then looking back five or six weeks later and thinking I've made the wrong appointment." I heard Ward on the radio say he has spoken to a few targets but either they were not available or couldnt come for one reason or another. So Ward is finding it hard to get a new number 2. Should he just give it to Stewart and therefore save on wages getting in someone else. Plus this allows Ward to train Stewart so when Ward feels its time to end management, he can be the Director of Football with Stewart in charge - like the Trollope/Lennie partnership. Think this will suit us better if Wards first few targets are no available.
Sounds like: a. he never had a specific person in mind b. a few possibles may have turned it down. Now that Stoke have dispensed with the services of Gerry Francis we might get him as assistant! Reading between the lines I reckon Ward isn't too fussed. He may have reached that point in his career where he's confident in what he does. The presence of an assistant isn't a priority for him. Stewart may slip into the role by default.
