Ex-Everton hero Tim Cahill joins Simon Wiles as bookies' favourites to succeed Joey Barton as Fleetwood Town manager

Tom Sandells column: Analysing an amazing week at Fleetwood Town

Cahill tops the betting along with caretaker boss Simon Wiles, who has been promoted from the club’s academy in the interim.

Cahill has not held a senior coaching position so far, as was the case with Fleetwood’s last boss Joey Barton.

The fact Barton secured the head coach’s role at Highbury despite a lack of experience can be a source of encouragement to 41-year-old Cahill.

Cahill, who also played for Millwall and Australia, has also emulated Barton with his punditry work, though his much more reserved approach may suit the new direction that Town chairman Andy Pilley wants to go in.

It would represent another high-profile appointment, however.

Cahill is Australia’s record goalscorer and ended his career just one cap away from equalling Mark Schwarzer’s record.

There has been no word on the pace at which the club will be looking to appoint a new manager, with Wiles expected to be given enough time to show what he can do.

He will get at least a few games at the helm, with Town happy to have him in charge for the time being ... but results may change that.

Further down the list on the bookies’ odds are Chris Beech, the Fleetwood man currently in charge of League Two’s table-topping Carlisle United, ex-Blackpool and Preston North End manager Simon Grayson, and former Lincoln City and Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley.

Meanwhile, former Fleetwood Town boss Graham Alexander is to be appointed manager of Motherwell.

It is understood the former Blackpool boss Simon Grayson was also among three candidates interviewed by the Scottish Premiership club.

Alexander, 49, is set to replace Stephen Robinson, who stepped down last week with the Fir Park club winless since October.

In 2014, former Scotland international Alexander led Fleetwood up to League One, where they have remained ever since.

He was sacked by Salford City five games into this season, even though the League Two club were unbeaten.

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