The Wright man at the wrong time (From Swindon Advertiser)

The Wright man at the wrong time

6:00am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Sport By Sam Morshead

SWINDON Town chairman Jed McCrory has confirmed that he spoke to Ian Wright about the vacant manager’s position at the County Ground before opting for Kevin MacDonald.

Wright and McCrory have known each other for several years and the pair had discussed the possibility of the ex-Arsenal striker taking over at the Robins following the recent departure of Paolo Di Canio.

However, MacDonald’s experience and Wright’s young family ultimately swung the decision in the Scot’s favour.

“Ian is a friend, and we had spoken to him in reference a position at the club,” said McCrory. “Ian would love the manager’s job, but Kevin has all the experience which far outweighs it and ticks all the boxes.”

Wright said he was “flattered” to be approached by Town, but felt his family should come first.

“I got a call on Monday morning and then all of a sudden I had to start thinking about other things. I had to start thinking about what team you’re going to put together and whether you’re going to do it but in the end I’ve been out of the game so long,” he said on Absolute Radio.

“I think they’ve got a really, really good man in Kevin MacDonald but it was something I really was enthused about.

“They were really nice people, the guys I spoke to – the chairman and Martin (King). They had me going.

“My wife wasn’t keen. I explained it to her about how it could be but she’s very good friends with Roberto Di Matteo’s wife, they went to school together, and she’s saying that Roberto was hardly ever about and when he is about he’s zoned into what he’s thinking about.

“I think personally it is a single man’s life really. I’ve got a young family and we’re close and I’ve got two young girls. It would have been a real uprooting vibe for everybody and they’re very young. I just feel that, as flattering as it was, it couldn’t happen.”