WHEN Mansfield Town announced David Flitcroft as their new boss a week ago, I was surprised like all Town fans.

But I suspect, like the majority, I wasn’t too sad to see him go.

Don’t get me wrong. Flitcroft was doing a decent job and, judging by his past, he’s clearly a competent manager.

But pretty soon into his time with Town he didn’t seem like the right fit for the club.

Flitcroft had a rapport with the loyal following on the road as the club’s away form has been the best in the division.

But when it came to the Town faithful at the County Ground the relationship got off on the wrong foot - and never recovered.

Despite the results one home turf finally improving in recent weeks, the football was still at times pretty unwatchable.

With Flitcroft gone it’s time to look to the future and to who will be guiding the club back to League One this season.

It was good to see Lee Power hand the reins to veteran player Matt Taylor on a interim basis last week.

With more than 300 Premier League appearances, a 20-year-old professional career, a natural leader in the dressing room and on the pitch, and currently studying for his pro license coaching badge, it’s clear Taylor will become a manager at some point.

But should Swindon give him the chance to start his managerial career at what is such an important time in the season?

Or should appoint someone like Phil Brown who has decades of experience?

I think the club should try and do both.

Give Taylor the job as a player-manager, but also appoint an experienced assistant to help guide him in his first job.

The assistant would also need to lead from the sidelines as I presume Taylor would still want to be involved in the first team, with him being a key player we can’t afford to lose him from the starting XI.

After the weather postponed Taylor’s debut as a manager against Yeovil last weekend, he gets his chance this Saturday as one of Town’s bogey teams, Cheltenham Town, visit the County Ground.