McCall in job link

STUART McCall (right) wants management return

STUART McCall is a shock candidate in the mix for the Athletic job, with the identity of the club's new boss set to be revealed this week.

The former Bradford and Motherwell manager left Rangers a year ago and is back on the hunt for a club job.

According to a national newspaper report, the 52-year-old ­- involved with the Scotland national team as an assistant to Gordon Strachan ­- has joined the list of men keen to take on the reins at SportsDirect.com Park.

Athletic will decide very soon who will succeed John Sheridan and become the club's sixth manager inside only 15 months, with a virtual clean slate in front of a new man given that so few players are currently under contract for 2016-17.

Among those thought to have been interviewed for the role are Frank Bunn, Neil Adams, Paul Simpson, Neil Redfearn and Warren Feeney.

McCall could also be in the running for a job back at Bradford, after Phil Parkinson left for Bolton. As it stood this morning, he was second-favourite for both roles, with Bunn still heading the Athletic betting.

"I always said that I would actively look to get back in this summer," McCall told the Telegraph and Argus.

A Bradford legend as a player, McCall started his management career at Valley Parade nine years ago and though he struggled to resurrect the fortunes of a club then ailing in League Two, he enjoyed success north of the border with Motherwell and guided them to a second-placed finish in the SPL in 2013 and 2014.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Leyton Orient are lining up a swoop for Athletic's captain Liam Kelly. New O's boss Andy Hessenthaler has already made four signings as he tries to get the club back up into League One.

ATHLETIC will take part in a revamped EFL Trophy next term, with a new format featuring Premier League academy sides.

A one-season trial will see the 64 EFL League One and League Two clubs joined by an additional 16 under-21s outfits from the top flight. There will be 16 regional groups of four clubs, with the top two from each making it into the knockout stages.