Notts County sack Short as search for perfect manager continues

Living up to the ambition of Notts County is going to prove a tough challenge for the manager brought in to replace the departed Craig Short.

County are now looking for their fifth manager in under a year after relieving Short of his duties after just 13 games of the League One season.

Although not starting brilliantly, the club were just four points outside of the play-off places and a slight improvement in their away form could have seen them climb the table.

Short’s last match in charge was an away defeat at Colchester, where they looked on course for a victory until conceding twice in the last 15 minutes to lose 2-1.

With many of the teams in the division so evenly matched, last season’s League Two winners could still represent good value at 40/1 to win League One.

Top scorer Ben Davies was particularly disappointed as he felt Short should have been given longer into his three-year deal to make a bigger impact.

He told the Nottingham Post: “After everything the club has been through it is crying out for a bit of stability. We’re back to square one now and the club is looking for a new manager.

“We’re not in a great position in the table but it’s not like we’ve been playing really badly, and we’re still only four points off the play-offs.

“I thought he had been appointed for the long haul, and would be given time. It always takes time when a new manager comes in and signs new players.”

Paul Hart and Paul Ince are among the early names being linked with the vacant post, while Crawley Town’s Steve Evans is another possible candidate.

Notts County have won four of their six home games and will be keen to add another victory when they host one of the promotion favourites in Southampton next.

Southampton are 7/2 to win League One this season. See the whole League One winners betting odds market.