Does Shepherd's Mate Stand A Chance?

Last Updated : 09-May-2007 by
When Villa chairman Sam Ellis said to him "I'm right behind you Tommy", the experienced Docherty replied: "I'd rather have you in front of me Sam!"

And he said later: "When a chairman is making the headlines you know there is trouble brewing".

Freddy Shepherd's mate, and former England coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson is said to be interested in talking to Newcastle about the vacant manager's job. Nothing new, of course, he was even being linked to the job back in December. Nothing came of it then, and I'd be surprised if it did this time.

The Swede's agent Athole Still has revealed the job at St James' Park is just the kind he would seriously consider. Nothing more ... nothing less. Just a nice way for an agent to try and stick his nose in, just to show his client is still alive ... and still out of work.

Lyon manager Gerard Houllier is today emerging as a "surprise" candidate in some people's books, but again, Houllier is a name that mentioned when Glenn Roeder first replaced Graeme Souness as a caretaker boss.