Following their relegation from the Premier League last season, Bournemouth were looking to bounce straight back to the pinnacle of English football. Eddie Howe’s departure as a manager broke Bournemouth fans’ hearts, but his right hand man Jason Tindall was brave enough to take the reigns on a permanent basis.
After going unbeaten in the first nine games of the league season, it looked like Bournemouth were comfortable. Unfortunately, that run was never going to last and now in their last five league matches, they have picked up just one point, with four of those games coming against teams below them in the table as they now sit 6th after finding themselves in the top three for a lot of the early part of the season.
This poor run of form meant Tindall was duly sacked on Wednesday, meaning Bournemouth are now in the hunt for a new manager.
Here are three potential candidates that could potentially take over at the Vitality Stadium.
Frank Lampard
Having just been sacked by Chelsea, Frank Lampard could certainly be a viable option for the Cherries. The former midfielder has valuable Championship experience from his time at Derby, a team he took to the play off final in 2019. Despite the Bournemouth side not having the same amount of youthful quality as the Derby side he inherited, the South Coast club is definitely one that Lampard can take to the next level.
During his time at Chelsea, Lampard showed that he can get the players he has to adapt quickly to his style of play, with the Blues playing some fine football at times and I think that Bournemouth could really benefit from having yet another young manager at its helm.
Appointment probability: 5/10
John Terry
Here is yet another man with close ties to Chelsea in John Terry.
The former defender’s name has been one banded about more than anyone since Tindall’s departure from the South Coast side, which is a surprise considering he has had no main managerial experience before.
He has been assistant manager to Dean Smith at Aston Villa since 2018 and it has been an up and down ride for him in the Midlands.
After beating Frank Lampard’s Derby in the 2019/20 Championship Play-off Final, Villa’s first season back in the Premier League was an underwhelming one as they finished 17th, just one point above the relegation zone.
This season however, the rise has been phenomenal as they sit 9th after 20 games playing some of the most attractive football in the league.
Terry reportedly is keen on the job and so he should be. A team like Bournemouth would be a very good starting point for him as a manager and if he can get the right backroom staff around him, it could be a very good appointment.
Appointment probability: 8/10
Johnathan Woodgate
Johnathan Woodgate only joined Bournemouth on Monday as the new first team coach, but he now finds himself in temporary of the Cherries until they find a replacement manager.
He’s up there as a potential name to get the permanent job, but reports have suggested Bournemouth could be looking for an external appointment.
I think anybody would tell you that if this appointment were to happen, it would be a very big risk. Woodgate’s time as Middlesbrough boss last season was hugely underwhelming as he was sacked in June 2020 after the side found themselves outside the relegation zone on goal difference after 38 games. Neil Warnock replaced him and Middlesbrough ended the season 17th.
Like reports suggested, an external appointment is probably the most likely outcome of this hunt for a manager and Bournemouth fans would no doubt feel that Woodgate would be better off remaining as the first team coach.
Appointment probability: 4/10
