Luke Williams has departed Notts County for Swansea City, with the League Two club now searching for a replacement. The Magpies achieved promotion from the National League last season and will now look to recruit a candidate who can continue the good work of Williams, with the Midlands side currently sitting sixth in the division hoping for a second successive promotion.

Football betting sites have now created a next Notts County Manager betting market, with Stuart Maynard the initial favourite, and there’s been speculation that the current Wealdstone manager might make the step up to Meadow Lane. He is now in a battle for the position at the top of the market with a relative unknown manager in the form of Aarhus Fremad boss Morten Dahm Kjaergaard.

There could also be plenty of interest in the vacant role from far and wide, with the likes of Ruaidhri Higgins, Andrew Crofts and Brian Barry-Murphy all contenders with most betting sites. The board are likely to opt for someone with a similar football philosophy to Williams, with his possession-based football having been highly successful.

Morten Dahm Kjaergaard Was Surprise Favourite

The manager of Danish second division team Aarhus Fremad, Morten Dahm Kjaergaard, was installed as the favourite for the Notts County job. The 40-year-old may be a relative unknown in this country but is receiving admiring glances from the midlands club four years into his first senior management role. And if the UK football betting sites are to be believed, he could be the one who takes over from Williams at Notts County.

Will Maynard Make the Step Up From Wealdstone?

Stuart Maynard is a relative newcomer in league football, but the 43-year-old has been installed at the head of the market with most betting apps to take charge of Notts County. He is currently in charge of Wealdstone, and it’s a position he has held since 2021, with the coach keeping the team afloat in the National League and then cementing them as a fifth-tier club.

The Stones currently sit 12th in the National League table, and it’s widely regarded that Maynard has this team punching above their weight, with the team having previously achieved 16th and 13th placed finishes. 

Higgins Could Make the Switch to Notts From Derry

Ruaidhri Higgins is another fairly obscure name, but Notts County might look to hire him considering he’s achieved a lot at Derry City so far. The 39-year-old has been in charge of the League of Ireland Premier Division side since 2021, with Higgins having previously been the chief scout for the Republic of Ireland.

Higgins was able to land silverware in 2022 when steering Derry to an FAI Cup final win, with another trophy notched a year later when the President of Ireland’s Cup was secured. The team finished second in the standings in 2023, and perhaps Notts County will offer him the chance to progress his career.

Magpies Could Swoop for Brighton’s Crofts

Andrew Crofts had a distinguished playing career which spanned 447 club appearances, and he also earned 29 caps for the Wales international team. He has already made inroads in his coaching career, with the 39-year-old having remained at Brighton after arriving at the tail-end of his playing career and earning his coaching badges.

The former midfielder is one of the first-team coaches that operates under Roberto de Zerbi at the AMEX Stadium, and it appears as though he fits the right potential profile to follow in the footsteps of Luke Williams. Perhaps we’ll see the former Brighton caretaker boss be given his first foray into football management. The odds with new betting sites suggest he is one to watch.

Barry-Murphy Has League Two Management Experience

Brian Barry-Murphy seems to get linked to managerial roles in League One and League Two on a regular basis, with the 45-year-old having enjoyed a spell in charge of Rochdale between 2019-2021. Since leaving Spotland, he has taken charge of the Manchester City Elite Development Squad.

Perhaps Barry-Murphy is happy to remain in charge at the north-west giant, although Notts County could make an approach for someone who might be ready to return to football management after his time with Dale. It could be an attractive opportunity to take charge at this historic club and potentially guide them to glory.