Corney: we’ll take our time finding new manager

CARETAKER boss Dean Holden directs operations from the touchline against Preston on Saturday.

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ATHLETIC chairman Simon Corney says he will continue to take his time over selecting the right man to be the club’s new manager, while stating that he had little choice but to allow Lee Johnson to go to Barnsley.

Corney flew in from New York to take in caretaker boss Dean Holden’s first game in charge, a 4-0 loss to Preston.

That poor performance — featuring a heavily-weakened squad, up against Simon Grayson’s in-form and promotion-chasing outfit — will not hasten his chase to install a new boss, though.

While he would not be drawn on names rumoured to be in the fray, Corney said that the club had received applications from 70 serious candidates.

“We are taking our time as there is nothing worse than rushing it,” said the chairman.

“We are not in any danger, in my opinion.

“I know that a lot of people do panic, but we will be taking as long as is necessary.

“That may mean there is a new manager for the weekend or it may not.”

Lee Johnson made a winning start in his new job at Barnsley in a 1-0 victory at Gillingham, which lifts the Tykes above Athletic in the Sky Beat League One table.

Though some fans felt the club should have done more to hold on to Johnson, Corney argued that the desire to leave trumps all at every level of the modern game.

“It was always in Lee’s hands. This is how it works now,” Corney said.

“If Jose Mourinho wants to go to Real Madrid then it is in his hands — and he is about to get a new four-year contract.”