Brian Barry-Murphy to take over Cardiff, Keith Andrews set for Brentford
Brian Barry-Murphy's appointment as manager of Cardiff City is imminent, with fellow Irishman Keith Andrews also closing in on the Brentford vacancy.
Eight managers have come and gone at Cardiff over the past four turbulent years but relegation to existing in League One for the first time in 22 years has prompted a rethink on direction.
The Corkman's record for blooding young players, as manager of Rochdale, assistant at Leicester City, and in charge of Manchester City's development squad, attracted the Bluebirds' hierarchy.
Mark Allen, who led Cardiff's managerial appointment sub-committee interviewing candidates such as Aaron Ramsey for the past six weeks, knew first-hand of Barry-Murphy's strengths from their time working together.
Ramsey is one of several senior players, along with Anwar El Ghazi, Yakou Meite and Dimitrios Goutas, who've departed since their drop from the Championship.
Irishmen Callum Robinson and Callum O'Dowda will likely join the exodus, with former clubs Preston North End and Oxford United respectively showing interest.
Barry-Murphy will be starting with something of a blank canvas. The third tier of English football is renowned as a dogfight but the expectation is for the new manager to prioritise youth, complemented by a selection of senior professionals.
Although personal terms were agreed in principle between the parties, acquiring Barry-Murphy from his current employers Leicester City has taken time.
He was headhunted by manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy when he took over the Foxes in Christmas week but their failure to avoid the side slipping to relegation created uncertainty around their future.
That has continued into the summer but the working assumption at this stage is the Dutchman will start their quest for a swift return. He'll be doing so without his Irish sidekick.
Meanwhile, Andrews is set for a shock elevation to Premier League management in his first job.
The Dubliner, like Barry-Murphy, was enlisted by a first-team manager onto his backroom team but the first clue of his potential promotion came when Thomas Frank announced his staff at Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
While Juston Cochrane, coach Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton were part of the Dane's package, set-piece specialist Andrews was left behind at Brentford.
It has emerged that the Bees' hierarchy, led by Matthew Benham, considered Andrews as a natural successor to Frank. He has been interviewed about the step-up and though other names have been linked, including Ipswich Town's Irish manager Kieran McKenna, 44-year-old Andrews is the leading contender.
Andrews has been on the coaching circuit for a decade, accompanying Stephen Kenny in both the U21 and senior Ireland gigs, but not as ultimate decision-maker.
Barring any hiccups, he'll become only the second manager to lead Brentford in the Premier League. They finished tenth last season and recently recruited Caoimhín Kelleher from Liverpool as first-choice goalkeeper.
Compatriot Nathan Collins has been a central-defensive mainstay for the past two years but could be a target for his former boss Frank at Spurs.
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