Cheltenham Town have begun the search for a new head coach, with Steve Cotterill, Jon Brady and Matt Taylor leading the early betting.
Mike Flynn was sacked this weekend, not long after Gary Johnson left his role at the club as well. It’s a clean slate for the Robins, after a poor start in League Two, and the market has quickly settled around three familiar EFL names with strong Gloucestershire links or recent records at this level.
Here are the three current favourites for the job.
Odds, top three
| Candidate | Best price |
|---|---|
| Steve Cotterill | 1/1 (Bet Victor) |
| Jon Brady | 3/1 (Bet Victor) |
| Matt Taylor | 6/1 (Bet Victor) |
Steve Cotterill (Favourite)
Cotterill is a Cheltenham native and a club legend, which explains why bookmakers have installed him as favourite. His first spell in the Whaddon Road dugout delivered rapid promotions, an FA Trophy win and a play-off triumph, then a long EFL career followed with Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and others.
More recently, he managed Shrewsbury Town and Forest Green Rovers. The appeal is obvious, proven League Two and League One nous, local affinity, and a track record of culture-building.
The counterpoint is fit and timing, the Robins must weigh sentiment against the demands of a relegation fight and a squad that needs quick, practical solutions.
Jon Brady
Brady guided Northampton Town to promotion in 2023 and then consolidated in League One before departing in December 2024. His work with the Cobblers was defined by structure, clear roles and a competitive edge without lavish resources, attributes that match Cheltenham’s reality.
He also knows this region’s player pool from years in the non-league and EFL circuits. Tactically, Brady has used flexible 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 shapes, with an emphasis on set-play detail and out-of-possession discipline.
If the board want an organiser who can stabilise quickly, he profiles as a strong shortlist name at a workable salary level.
Matt Taylor
Taylor earned promotion with Exeter City in 2022, then fought Championship fires with Rotherham United and returned to League One with Bristol Rovers.
His Cheltenham playing stint and captaincy experience elsewhere add leadership credentials, while his Exeter years showed academy integration and smart recruitment. Taylor’s teams can be direct when needed, but at their best they mix crossing volume with strong defensive structure.
The risk is churn, his recent roles were short, and he would need quick alignment with Cheltenham’s new ownership. The upside is fresh ideas and a history of improving players inside constrained budgets.
Other names in the market
Other names in the market include Adam Hinshelwood at 6/1, former Notts County boss Luke Williams at 10/1, the ever-controversial Steve Evans at 12/1, and current Boston United manager Graham Coughlan at 14/1.
Betting advice
Price, profile and availability drive this market. Cotterill at evens implies a probability near 50 percent before margin, which leaves little value if negotiations become complicated. Sentiment is in his favour, yet the club must be confident on structure, recruitment responsibilities and contract length, otherwise short odds can compress further without a signed agreement and expose backers to drift if talks stall.
Brady at 3/1 is the balanced ticket. The fit is strong for immediate stabilisation, he has recent League One experience and a defined methodology, and compensation is unlikely to be an obstacle. If the brief is clarity and quick points, this price offers a better risk to reward profile than the favourite.
Taylor at 6/1 works as a saver or small speculative play. The ceiling is appealing, particularly if the board want medium-term development, but recent short tenures increase variance. Consider a split-stake approach, a primary position on Brady with a smaller cover on Taylor, while monitoring any local movement toward Cotterill.
The wider field contains live runners, but each has friction. Hinshelwood has impressed in the National League and fits a development brief, yet prising him from his current project may require assurances.
Williams is available and tactically progressive, although recent exits can make boards cautious. Evans carries a promotion pedigree and presence, but style and alignment are key considerations for a club that wants calmer edges.
Coughlan has engineered survival jobs and would bring resilience; however, the timing against ongoing National League commitments can complicate the path.
Writer’s View
Cotterill makes obvious sense, he is ex Cheltenham, a proven builder, and a known quantity to the fanbase. The Forest Green connection adds an extra rivalry note; he is also their former manager, which would sharpen the narrative if he returns to Whaddon Road.
If the board lean away from a homecoming, Brady remains the safest balance of fit, method and value at current prices, with Taylor the higher variance option if the brief tilts toward squad evolution.
