Laws stays coy on the prospect of a return to Glanford Park
FORMER Scunthorpe United manager Brian Laws is remaining coy about the prospect of a return to Glanford Park.
He is still hot favourite with the bookmakers to take over from Ian Baraclough who was dismissed last week.
-
STILL FAVOURITE: Brian Laws.
When he spoke to the Telegraph last night, he was reluctant to comment on the link – but refused to rule himself out of the running.
Laws, who celebrated his 51st birthday yesterday, insisted if he had any thoughts on the job, he would voice them first in private to Iron chairman Steve Wharton.
With United now seemingly doomed to relegation, they appear to be looking to bring in an experienced manager to steady the ship.
Laws, who still lives in the Scunthorpe area, fits that bill.
"Obviously I am aware of all the speculation that there is," said Laws.
"People are putting two and two together.
"I have a lot of time for Scunthorpe United and I have a lot of time for the chairman.
"If I was interested in the job, then that is a private conversation that I would have with Steve Wharton.
"That is really all I want to say."
Laws has not applied at present for the job – but that does not mean he will not be in contact at some time with the chairman, of whom he is a close friend.
Even if he does not want the job himself, it is a possibility Wharton might informally seek his advice about a possible successor.
Laws has had 10 years of experience as manager of United and it was he who laid the foundation stones for the club's success of recent years.
He left Glanford Park in November 2006 to join Sheffield Wednesday, leaving behind him a squad that Nigel Adkins developed into a League One title-winning outfit.
He left Hillsborough in December 2009 – and was appointed manager at then Premier League Burnley just a month later.
His tenure at Turf Moor ended in December after a 2-0 home defeat against Scunthorpe.
"I took a conscious decision then to stay out of football for a while," said Laws.
But the Telegraph understands his contract with Burnley, one potential stumbling block, is now settled and after nearly three months out of the game, his appetite might have started to be whetted for a return.
23 Comments
View all
by Hampton Iron, South West Middlesex
Wednesday, March 23 2011, 3:14PM
“Who signed Billy Sharp and Andy Keogh?! Surely we made a bit more out of them than we did out of Paul Hayes, so that argument doesn't stand up, does it?
So the man who created the Sharp-Keogh partnership is more well remembered for the Stamp-Sheldon combination?? Do me a favour!
I have no opinion on who should come in as manager, because as there are so many positive thinkers on here I don't need to!
Thank you Laws, thank you Wharton, you aint so bad, and everyone makes some mistakes, and those that don't, well they have nothing to do with Scunthorpe United!”
by Lisa, Scotter
Tuesday, March 22 2011, 7:31PM
“Why is Laws already on the payroll??”
by smithy, Grove Wharfe
Tuesday, March 22 2011, 6:02PM
“Grove Whafe was purchased within a year of Barrie Thomas being sold.
Think on...”
by smithy, Grove Wharfe
Tuesday, March 22 2011, 6:01PM
“He is an upper class twit mate - what do we know on him? Multimillionaire, yacht in Portugal, best mates with Micheal Hesletine, fleet of luxury cars and an estate in Louth.
Not self made either - if he started out by delivering coal then fair play but he didnt!”
by Hedonist Puncture, On the edge of the box
Tuesday, March 22 2011, 2:33AM
“Smithy, son of a bloke who started out delivering coal and building a business from there does not make Wharton an upper class twit. He inherited anyway and has done little apart from selling the business on. Wharton's business style is typical of the cautious, cut cost, risk averse type. This syle stifles business growth. Yes, we may be debt free, but we are going down. The league is a step too far and is unsustainable with the business model we have.
As for Laws, the poll on this site shows a quarter of the respondents favour a Laws return. If Wharton sees that, I hope that he will stop and think. He acted after the crowd turned on Bara at the Preston match. The same thing happened at Turf Moor this season, when we had just beaten Burnley. The crowd turned on Laws and their chairman responded. The supporters do have a voice.
I hope Laws does not return. A retrograde step in my view. However, Wharton's style would suggest it could easily happen. Here's hoping that the Wharf Boy takes a big step forward and puts our money to better use.”
by Real, wakeupland
Monday, March 21 2011, 8:48PM
“A I said it is a done deal been on the cards for a while why else would he be already on the pay roll it is common knowledge down at glanford park so we had better get used to the idea ,love him or loath him its who we will get back Wharton will see it as a big name coming back why all of a sudden do you think Wharton will listen to the fans be real”
by Eddie Murphy, Beverley Hills
Monday, March 21 2011, 7:50PM
“Mr Wharton, I implore you to have some respect for both the club and its fans and not employ Laws. As 1500club points out, his achievements pretty much equal out his failures while here before, and he has been a DISASTER everywhere else (ask a few burnley supporters for their opinion on how he ruined team spirit and his clueless tactics). Not to mention how divisive his return would be at a time when crowds are already falling. Our club is bigger than one man and we should be looking forward, not prostrating ourselves for some mythical prodigal son.”
by john, Scunny
Monday, March 21 2011, 7:29PM
“Feel we want a fresh face with fresh ideas like fitness,passing creating chances and finishing.NO going back with Laws,he couldnt keep his job at Owls & Burnley.Big Sam would perfect the long ball game. Lets giveit to someone with BALLS and lets get going again UP THE IRON”
by Ted, Humberside
Monday, March 21 2011, 7:08PM
“Is that Lawsys 'coy' look, in the photo? He looks like he has had a stroke in recent years!
Seriously - the REASON that folk dont like Laws (for all you people who ask)...is not so much on what he did/didnt achieve at SUFC, it is the pathetic way in which he was favoured by the owner. He saw off Wagstaffe, he saw off Holland, he was given major cash to spend despite never reay achieving much and in the end, after a decade, he to us up twice and brought us down once - only selling Paul Hayes (125k) in that period and ruining every youth player provided by Paul Wilson. He had a great record of making the third round of the Cup but never once threatened a shock at that level. Overall a poor manager given way too long to be a success at SUFC but I could see him returning because Wharton has no record of appointing anyone - from Hammond to Baraclough, he clearly has no idea.
30-40appicants and all the SETcan rustle up is an interview with Laws? How about finding out the names of the other interested parties?
Baras departure WAS kneejerk, at midnight last Tuesday after he dared to answer Wharton back...to claim that as 'n handling the pressure' was wrong - Barabrought in some decent players but HAD to play the longball ... we may as well have kept faith in him as try for a failed ex manager like Wilson etc.
UP THE IRON!”
by skint, scunny
Monday, March 21 2011, 6:41PM
“Dave, Laws almost took us out of the football league altogether. Tactically he hasn`t a clue, I have never seen Laws make a tactical substitution before the 80th minute of a game.
As Sid says it`s the perfect opportunity to look forward not back. I`d like to see Wharton make an approach to someone like Big Sam, after all what`s the worst that could happen?”