Laws and Davis would do for me

8:02am Tuesday 20th November 2007

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IS IT just me, or is anyone else distinctly underwhelmed by some of the names proposed as Steve Cotterill's successor?

In the last week we have had the unsuitable (Graeme Souness), the uninspiring (Paul Simpson) and the downright weird (Joe Kinnear).

And one can only assume that the wag who threw Carlton Palmer's name into the equation watches their football down the road and was having a laugh at the expense of Burnley supporters.

Of the sensible suggestions, Paul Jewell has emerged as the man who the fans would like to shape the club's future.

Yet Brendan Flood all but ruled out the possibility last week.

Although not, one would hope, without inquiring first.

Steve Davis' name has also been put forward. Young, northern and with a strong affinity to Burnley, he certainly matches the desired profile.

But the head should run the heart on this occasion.

Davis was only recently promoted to number two and is still learning the management side of the game.

Imagine if it all went belly up. Davis would lose his job, his well-deserved hero status at Turf Moor would be tarnished and you would have to wonder who might take a punt on him in the future.

Another candidate who matches the profile, but has an attractive CV to boot, is Brian Laws. That's clearly what Kilby and Flood thought when they approached Wednesday, only to be knocked back by the club, whose chief executive, Kaven Walker wondered, "Why would he want to go to a smaller club anyway?"

I don't know Kaven. Something about being relieved of the twin burdens of a maverick chairman and millions of pounds worth of debt, perhaps?

Personally, I'd like to see us test Wednesday's resolve a little further and attempt to prise Brian Laws away from Sheffield, whilst retaining the services of Steve Davis as his number two.