John McGreal, a man with a decent track record at League Two level, is among the favourites to replace Chris Beech as Carlisle United head coach.
The former Ipswich and Burnley defender spent 11 years as a coach at Colchester United, four of them as head coach.
Under McGreal in the 2019/20 season, the U’s reached the League Two play-offs and League Cup quarter-finals for only the second time in their history.
During his first three years in charge, Colchester were strong competitors for a top-seven finish, while a number of players he had nurtured made it through to play at a higher level.
But of course, early odds for a new managerial role are notoriously fickle. It just needs even a small wager of £20 to change the market.
McGreal is among the early front-runners at 8/1 with William Hill and BetVictor to take charge at Brunton Park.
But some outlets have former Carlisle skipper Danny Grainger at the head of the market, an acknowledgement of the great work he did in his first role at Workington – twice denied promotion by the effects of Covid more than the opposition.
Grainger left Borough Parkin the summer to take on a role as assistant with Falkirk in the Scottish First Division, but has always been seen as a potential Carlisle manager in waiting.
His brand of possession football introduced at Workington was particularly eye-catching and effective in NPL West and his knowledge of the lower Divisions within the EFL will also stand him in good stead.
But with management vacancies, names are usually either fans’ wish lists or a collection of out-of-work managers.
Also being linked with the current vacancy at Carlisle are the likes of Michael Bridges, Keith Hill, Gary Caldwell, PhilBrown, Shaun Derry, Sol Campbell, Dean Holdsworth, Jamie Milligan, John Askey, Peter Murphy, Sam Rickets and Clint Hill.
Also in the frame is the present caretaker incumbent Gavin Skelton.
