Next Motherwell Manager Odds: New Favourite To Replace Jens Berthel Askou
Motherwell's search for a new manager continues after Jens Berthel Askou joined Toulouse as their new head coach.
The 43-year-old Dane wrapped up European football for Well with a fantastic fourth-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership, but could not resist a new challenge in the top flight of French football.
The Lanarkshire club were often described as the most attractive to watch in Scotland since he joined the club in the summer, so it was no surprise Askou was a wanted man.
Former Rangers manager Russell Martin was the early favourite for a fairly quick return to Scotland, but a new frontrunner has emerged on betting sites.
Here, we take look at some of those in the running and the latest next Motherwell manager odds.
McGlynn A Miracle Worker
The reputation of John McGlynn could not be any higher, so could Motherwell make an approach for the Falkirk boss?
McGlynn won two league titles with Raith during a couple of lengthy coaching spells, but his work with the Bairns has caught the eye of all Scottish football fans.
The 64-year-old from Musselburgh led Falkirk to the Scottish Division One title in 2023/24 during which they were unbeaten for the whole season.
Remarkably, Falkirk won the Championship in the following campaign to make it back-to-back promotions and they finished in the top half of the SPL this season.
McGlynn was 2/1 to become Motherwell’s latest manager in our original article, but his odds have since been slashed to 5/6 on betting apps.
Next Motherwell Manager Odds:
Manager | Odds | Probability |
John McGlynn | 5/6 | 54.5% |
Scott Brown | 5/4 | 44.4% |
Jimmy Thelin | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Henrik Jensen | 3/1 | 25% |
Mitchell van der Gaag | 3/1 | 25% |
Russell Martin | 4/1 | 20% |
Steven Naismith | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Ryan Mason | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Eric Ramsay | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Will Still | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Tony Mowbray | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Steve Bruce | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Brown Has High Standards
Scott Brown left Ayr United a couple of months ago amid reports he demanded too much from players in the Scottish Championship.
The Celtic legend will surely relish the chance to work with players like Calum Ward, Tawanda Maswanhise, Elijah Just, Paul McGinn and Elliot Watt, who has been linked with a move to Rangers.
Brown lasted just over a year as Fleetwood boss in his first managerial role, but he had more success with The Honest Men, who reached the Championship play-offs in the 2024/25 season during his tenure.
Things did not work out quite as well in the just-finished campaign and Brown left the club by mutual consent at the end of March.
Brown’s playing career was littered with trophies and his odds have shortened from 2/1 to 5/4 in recent days.
Thelin In The Frame
Jimmy Thelin could do no wrong in the early days of his Aberdeen reign when he was appointed just over two years ago.
The Swede oversaw 10 victories in his first 11 games to share top spot with Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, although the wheels fell off for the rest of the campaign.
The Dons won just five of their remaining 27 games to finish in fifth place, but they did beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup final to land a first major trophy in 11 years.
However, Aberdeen did not burst out of the blocks in his second season in charge and he was sacked in the first week of January.
Thelin had led Elfsborg to a runners-up spot in the Allsvenskan three years ago, so he has a reputation for success.
Should Well decide to go for another Scandinavian who knows the Scottish Premiership, they could do a lot worse than Thelin, whose odds have drifted from 6/4 to 2/1 for the Well job.
Jensen Could Make Well Jump
Henrik Jensen is another Scandinavian that looks an interesting possibility at 3/1.
The Dane is hardly a household name, but he enhanced his reputation as assistant manager at Burnley, despite their relegation from the Premier League.
Jensen may move on during the summer and the stars are starting to align now that Askou has moved to France.
Well Return For Van Der Gaag?
Former Motherwell defender Mitchell Van der Gaag has coached in many countries throughout Europe, but he has recently emerged as a candidate to replace Askou.
Van der Gaag spent a couple of seasons as a player at Fir Park under Alex McLeish in the mid-90s before returning to his native Netherlands at Utrecht.
He has since been head coach of Maritimo, PSV Eindhoven and most recently FC Zurich, where he spent five months until he was sacked in October.
Premier League watchers will remember him as an assistant coach at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag and was even on the sidelines for a 3-0 win against Everton in November 2023 when his countryman was serving a touchline suspension.
Van der Gaag is also 3/1 to fill the Motherwell vacancy.
Martin Can Restore Image
Martin’s reputation took a hammering with a disastrously short-lived spell in charge of the Light Blues, but he is the frontrunner to fill the Fir Park vacancy.
The former Scotland defender lasted just 123 days at Ibrox, leaving the club in the first week of October following a 1-1 draw with Falkirk which left them eighth in the table.
Although his reign in Glasgow ended in acrimony, his accomplishments with Southampton and elsewhere should not be forgotten.
Martin steered Saints to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs, but his refusal to abandon playing out from the back in the top flight ultimately cost him his job at St Mary’s.
He had deployed the same possession-based tactics at MK Dons and Swansea where he first started to attract attention, but Motherwell fans have been spoilt this season and may want someone more exciting.
Martin was the 6/5 frontrunner to get back on the managerial merry-go-round at Motherwell, but his odds have lengthened significantly to 4/1.
Naismith A Contender
Steven Naismith was a success as a player in the Scottish Premiership and English Premier League, but could he soon be back in the dugout with Motherwell?
Naismith steered Hearts to third place in the SPL in his first full season in charge, but was sacked after eight successive defeats at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
The former Rangers and Everton midfielder is an assistant to Steve Clarke with the Scotland national team, so he has a World Cup campaign on his mind, so it's unsurprising his odds have drifted from 4/1 to 5/1 to land the Motherwell job.
Elsewhere, former West Brom managers Ryan Mason, Eric Ramsay, Tony Mowbray and Steve Bruce are 6/1, 7/1, 10/1 and 12/1 respectively.
Will Still had a bad spell in charge of Southampton this season, but he had enjoyed some success in France with Reims and Lens. Still can be backed at 8/1.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
Calling all Motherwell supporters! Who would be the best replacement for Jens Berthel Askou if he leaves the club? Comment below or vote in our poll above
