Alan Smith is Notts County caretaker manager as Alan Hardy draws up shortlist of contenders
| Posted: January 03, 2017
Alan Smith has been put in caretaker charge of Notts County.
Alan Smith has been put in caretaker charge of Notts County, following the sacking of John Sheridan.
The former Manchester United ace will be in the dugout for the Magpies' League Two clash at Morecambe on Saturday – and will be assisted by Sheridan's No.2 Mark Crossley.
After taking the decision to axe Sheridan after Notts slumped to a club record ninth league defeat in a row at Cambridge United on Monday, incoming new owner Alan Hardy has turned to Smith to take over the first team temporarily as he looks for an experienced manager to permanently replace Sheridan.
Read more: 'If a man with a track record like John Sheridan can fail, who will succeed at Notts County?'
Alan Smith played in John Sheridan's last match in charge of the Magpies at Cambridge.
And Smith might only be in charge for one match as it is understood Hardy ideally wants the new manager in place for the Magpies' derby clash with Mansfield Town on January 14, which will be the first game after his officially takes charge of the club on January 9.
Notts have already been inundated with calls from managers keen to succeed Sheridan in the hot-seat at Meadow Lane – and Hardy is currently drawing up a shortlist of contenders.
Read more: 'Notts County should have been brave and stuck by John Sheridan'
With the Magpies just one point above the relegation zone and facing the threat of relegation out of the Football League, Hardy is thought to want a manager with experience in the lower leagues and a strong character to lift the players and turn the club's fortunes around.