Notts County urged to eye bold Rob Edwards move to replace Stuart Maynard | OneFootball

FLW's Notts County fan pundit has been speaking on their dream manager to replace Stuart Maynard amid his Meadow Lane sacking.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Notts County have sacked manager Stuart Maynard after the Magpies fell to League Two play-off heartbreak at the hands of AFC Wimbledon.

The news of Maynard's sacking was announced on 22 May, as County begin their search for his replacement.

The 44-year-old has been in charge of the Magpies since January 2024, when he quit his part-time engineering job that he juggled alongside his role as boss of non-league side Wealdstone to take over at Meadow Lane.

However, after guiding the club to a 14th-placed finish in 2023/24, before recording a sixth-placed finish this past season before their play-off semi-final loss to Wimbledon, the Notts County hierarchy have decided to go in a different direction in their pursuit of League One football next year.

"Attractive football" - Notts County told to make move for ex-Luton Town boss Rob Edwards as Maynard successor

We asked our Notts County fan pundit, Jack Richardson: 'Stuart Maynard has been sacked. Who is your number one choice to replace him and why?'

Richardson said: "There's two names that spring to mind straight away, one being Des Buckingham, who was in charge of Oxford United recently.

"He comes with a bit of experience at a higher level. I don't know if he'd be willing to take the step down to League Two level.

"The other one is Rob Edwards, who was obviously at Forest Green Rovers. He got them promoted, knows the lower leagues, plays good, attractive football.

"So, I think that's the approach that the owners are going to go again. Stick to a philosophy of football. Young, upcoming manager, bit of experience, plays good, attractive, attacking football.

"So yes, they're the two names that would be on my shortlist straight away."

Rob Edwards is surely out of Notts County's reach in League Two

Despite being relieved of his duties as Luton Town boss in January after a disappointing end to his Hatters tenure, Edwards remains one of the most respected and admired young coaches in English football.

After guiding Forest Green to the League Two title in 2021/22 with 84 points, the 42-year-old endured a brief stint as Watford boss between July 2022-September 2022, before making the move to Kenilworth Road.

It was there that his Hatters side defeated Coventry City in the 2023 Championship play-off final to win promotion to the Premier League, after guiding the club to third in the second tier that season.

Despite a valiant effort, however, Luton would be relegated from the top flight in 2023/24, having registered 26 points - six shy of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.

As such, the remit was evidently to win an instant return to the Premier League this year, and as such, few predicted a second relegation in as many seasons.

But, in what is a clear sign that his reputation is still intact, journalist Alan Nixon reporting via Patreon has recently revealed that Edwards has his admirers at Championship side Middlesbrough, and is an obvious choice to replace Michael Carrick should he face the axe on Teesside this summer.

If that is indeed to be the case, that would suggest that Edwards will surely be holding out for another Championship opportunity or an equivalent opening elsewhere, and therefore, will surely be out of reach to Notts County in League Two.

Des Buckingham, on the other hand, could be a slightly more attainable candidate, as the 40-year-old remains out of work since departing Oxford United in mid-December.