Oxford United boss Karl Robinson is on AFC Bournemouth's shortlist to replace Jason Tindall, according to The Mirror's John Cross.

The Cherries are searching for a new full-time boss, with Eddie Howe's former assistant Tindall given the boot last week following a run of four straight league defeats.

Jonathan Woodgate - who only arrived last week as a first-team coach - is in temporary charge and has managed to pick up wins against Birmingham and then Burnley in the FA Cup, with Harry Redknapp advising him from afar.

Bournemouth are expected to not make another internal appointment, which would seemingly rule Woodgate's chances of getting the job on a long-term basis, and the club are said to have a five-man shortlist, with John Terry, Patrick Vieira and David Wagner all being heavily-linked.

But Robinson has emerged as a surprise name, having overseen a miraculous turnaround in Oxford United's 2020-21 campaign.

Robinson is probably best-known for his work as MK Dons manager, where he was from 2010 until 2016 and secured the club's first promotion to the EFL Championship back in 2015.

 

 

 

 

He spent a year-and-a-half at Charlton Athletic following his sacking from the Dons in 2016, and the same day he left the Addicks in March 2018, he was appointed the boss at Oxford United.

His outfit fell just short of promotion to the Championship last season in the League One play off final, and it looked like earlier in the current campaign that the wheels had well-and-truly fell off at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford were in the relegation zone after 15 games, having won just two matches but Robinson led them to eight wins in their next 10 outings, including seven victories in a row, and they now sit in ninth place in League One, and his recent good form clearly hasn't gone unnoticed if he's on the Cherries' wanted list.

The Verdict

Despite some big names like Terry and Vieira seemingly in the mix, you could argue that Robinson would be more suited than them due to his experience managing in the Football League.

His stint at Charlton wasn't the best and you could have argued that earlier in this season he was primed for the sack after some of Oxford's results, but he turned a corner a while ago and they haven't looked back.

Robinson likes to play football on the floor and is forward-thinking, which would be music to the ears of the likes of David Brooks and Jack Wilshere, and he would actually be a shrewd appointment if he is being seriously considered.