Andy Whing has been sacked as Barrow AFC manager after only 11 months in charge at Holker Street. The board pulled the trigger on Wednesday afternoon after a grim run that has seen the Bluebirds pick up just five wins from their opening 19 league games.
A 3-0 home defeat by Tranmere has left them 18th in League Two, just four points above the drop, and the result was ultimately the final nail in the coffin for Whing. The task for finding his replacement has already started, and as betting markets for the next Barrow AFC manager odds start to form, we’ve created a first look to see who could come in and save this sinking ship.
Latest Odds for the Next Barrow AFC Manager
We’ve got in early to assess potential candidates for the manager role at Barrow AFC. The table shows what we consider to be fair odds before the mainstream betting sites catch up. Use these as a guide.
| Candidate | Hypothetical Odds |
|---|---|
| Neil McDonald | 2/1 |
| Jon Brady | 3/1 |
| Matt Bloomfield | 4/1 |
| Phil Parkinson | 6/1 |
| Paul Hurst | 8/1 |
| Jason Taylor | 10/1 |
| Gary Bowyer | 14/1 |
| Michael Appleton | 16/1 |
| Dean Holden | 20/1 |
| Leighton Baines | 25/1 |
Neil McDonald – Current Interim Manager
As part of the club statement announcing that Andy Whing had left his role, the board announced that Neil McDonald would take over duties as Interim First Team Head Coach.
McDonald is in his third spell at the club, taking on various coaching roles, so he knows the club well. If Barrow AFC are looking for evolution, not revolution, and want to limit financial outgoings after paying off Whing, then McDonald could be a strong shout.
He’s going to have the job for at least a few weeks, so the board will note any uptick in form. They’ve recently opted to take on younger head coaches – Clemence, then Whing – so a more experienced head might be the tonic needed here.
The downside is that he’s not been a head coach since managing Limerick in 2018. He will have to hit the ground running, but at 2/1, he’s the value play with news of Whing’s departure still hot off the press.
Jon Brady – The Fans Pick
Reading the fan forums, it’s clear who most are touting for – Jon Brady. The former Northampton Town man would be a dream pick to take charge.
He took The Cobblers from League Two into League One, before earning the club's highest points tally since the 2007-08 season. Brady created an ethos about patterns, intricate build-up play, and just generally football that was pleasing on the eye. Something that has been missing at Holker Street for some time now.
The board would love to have someone with promotion experience. There’s a lot to be said about managers who’ve been there, done that. Created a blueprint for success, if you will.
The snag is whether Brady would want the challenge. Let’s face it, Barrow AFC are in trouble right now, and it’s not certain if he will want the risk at this point in his career.
Matt Bloomfield – The Board’s Pick
It’s not that long ago that Matt Bloomfield was touted as one of the hottest young managers in the EFL. At Wycombe, he built on the foundations laid by Gareth Ainsworth, winning back-to-back manager of the month awards.
His form earned him a shot at the Luton Town job in the Championship and is one of few in the next Barrow AFC manager odds to have second-tier experience.
Bloomfield’s time at Luton didn’t quite work out, but there is no doubt about the quality he possesses as a manager.
The question would be, does Bloomfield want to drop back down to League Two? We’ve priced him at 4/1 as an outsider for this reason, but if the board can get him on board with the project at hand and he’s willing to make the step down, this would be a dream appointment for the Bluebirds if they can get it done.
