After narrowly missing out on promotion to League One and sacking Stuart Maynard, Notts County are on the lookout for a new manager. Join me in this article as I explore five potential candidates for the role.
Luke Williams
Luke Williams is currently unemployed after being sacked by Swansea in February 2025, but I think that Williams coming back to the club would give the players and fans a boost, as he is trustworthy.
Also, his possession-dominant style of play would suit Notts, in my opinion. The 43-year-old holds a lot of experience within League Two him having previously worked at Notts County and Swindon.
His largest achievement was at Notts in the 2022/23 season when his Magpies won the playoffs and gained promotion to League Two. Even though being sacked by The Swans in February because of a run of poor results, in my opinion, Williams is one of the top candidates for the role.
Des Buckingham
The former Reading and Oxford youth player Des Buckingham will fit The Magpies’ coaching template, in my opinion, as he is young and has an attacking and possession-based style of football.
The 40-year-old has most recently gained promotion to the Championship from League One with Oxford. He has also had a few managerial jobs abroad. I think Buckingham will provide Notts with knowledge about League One, which they could use to their advantage and support them in getting promoted to League One, as he knows how different the League above is, and he can identify what they need to get there.
At the time of writing this, he is one of the favourites to be appointed by the recently relegated side, Cardiff, but this could always change if Notts approach Buckingham with a deal he cannot turn down.
Ian Evatt
Ian Evatt could be a candidate to watch out for in this managerial race. As he holds a possession-based style of play, which would suit Notts County as well as this he earned a promotion to League One with Bolton in the 2020/21 season, with them finishing 3rd.
So the experience that Evatt holds will hugely benefit Notts because he knows how to get out of League Two, as he witnessed it with Bolton, unlike Notts most recent manager, Stuart Maynard, who had mostly experience in non-league.
Like Buckingham, above, Evatt is also a favourite for the Cardiff job, but in my opinion, I think that Evatt will suit the Magpies more than the Welsh side, Cardiff, as he has not experienced a promotion to the Championship yet in his career.
Brian Priske
Former Feyenoord and Sparta Prague manager Brian Priske could be a surprise candidate to take over from Stuart Maynard at Meadow Lane.
Even though the Danish man has not got much experience within the EFL, I think this appointment could be possible, this is because County have been known to sign players from Denmark, Norway, and Belgium for example, they signed Alassana Jatta from Danish side Viborg so this may show that Notts have connections in Denmark.
Priske has had experience winning cups within his former managerial roles, so he could add this experience to The Magpies. Most recently, he has been at Eredivisie club Feyenoord he is currently unemployed as he left in February. I think that his style of football would suit Notts as his play is dynamic and involves transitions, which involves possession-based football.
Adam Hinshelwood
Finally, Hinshelwood could be another candidate on the radar for Notts County’s latest vacancy. He has most recently managed York City, taking over from Neal Ardley in February 2024 after impressing at National League South side Worthing.
York were within a chance of making their way back to League Two this season, but they didn’t manage to make it to Wembley even though finishing 2nd in the League as they lost 3-0 in their most recent match against Oldham, which happened on the 20th May. Hinshelwood is still in charge of York at the time of writing this article. In my opinion, he has huge potential to be a League Two manager like Andy Woodman at Bromley.
His style of play is possession-based and on the front foot, like the style Notts County play. I do think a lot of League Two clubs will be after his signature, but Notts may come out on top.
