Knutsen Set For Surgery
Monday, 15th Jun 2026 14:17

Bodø/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen, the bookies’ current favourite for the Town job, is set to undergo back surgery which will keep him away from the Norwegian club for an unspecified period.

Knutsen is still ranked as the frontrunner to replace Blues boss Kieran McKenna by the bookmakers, currently at 5/4, however, there appears little to back that up with sources close to the 57-year-old having said they have heard nothing regarding Town interest and the Norwegian media not reporting any impending move.

Now, Knutsen is set to spend time away from Glimt to undergo surgery on a back problem.

Assistant manager Gaute Helstrup told an.no: “He has a prolapse in his back. The solution is surgery. It will be done tomorrow.

“The surgery will be performed in Stavanger. There are positive forecasts and we hope he will be able to report back quickly.”

Pressed on how long Knutsen might be away, one, two or five weeks, Helstrup added: “As usual, we're taking it day by day at Glimt. We're positive and he's positive. We hope and believe he'll be back up and running pretty quickly.”

There has been little movement in the betting over the weekend with another Norwegian, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remaining the second-favourite at 6/4, ahead of Gary O’Neil 7/2 and Liam Rosenior 5/1, despite the former Chelsea and Hull City manager reportedly having decided to take a break following his bruising short spell at Stamford Bridge.

Cardiff City’s Brian Barry-Murphy is next, priced at 5/1 or 6/1 depending on bookmaker.

As previously reported, England assistant head coach Anthony Barry would have been a leading contender had he been available before the end of the World Cup, while Thomas Tuchel’s other assistant, Justin Cochrane, is also someone who has interested the Town hierarchy and similarly may well have come into the reckoning but for his unavailability until later in the summer. The Blues are keen to make their appointment next week at the latest.

Last summer, Cochrane, 44, was eyed as a potential replacement for first-team coach Lee Grant following his departure for the manager’s job at Huddersfield, but the former England U15, U16 and U17s coach followed then-Brentford head coach Thomas Frank to Tottenham before departing Spurs along with the Dane in February.

Photo: BILDBYRÅN via Reuters Connect

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VitalSigns added 14:30 - Jun 15

I can’t see it being this fella then. I know that we need to do due diligence and the priority is of course to get the best candidate. However it feels like the appointment needs to be made this week to give ourselves the best opportunity regards successful recruitment, tactical changes and of course whoever it is will bring their own assistant and back room staff all of whom need to get bedded in.

Increasingly get the feeling it’s going to be a real left field choice.

VitalSigns added 14:30 - Jun 15

Rimsy added 14:32 - Jun 15 Not ideal, so probably rules him out. Way clear for OGS
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Bazza8564 added 14:33 - Jun 15

Prolapsed disc surgery may not be a big issue depending on the severity, he won't be driving for 2-4 weeks but hospitalisation is usually no more than 4-7 days max. With training not due to start until July I don't see this as much os an issue, but the denial that we've been in contact with him is significant.

OGS maybe, and Barry-Murphy is known to be keen on Wes, hence his potential new contract. But we had all this last time around and no-one was even close with Kieran, so wake me when there's an announcement, it could be anyone :)

TomCruise added 14:33 - Jun 15 Hmmm. I think as well, Norway is a small place and if an approach had been made, I think that would get out pretty quickly. It would be big news in Norway.
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Edmundo added 14:34 - Jun 15 I don't think it'll be anyone on this list either Bookies are just speculating. Ipswich are very discreet about recruitment, since Gamechanger took over
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Broadbent23 added 14:34 - Jun 15 That's one way to lose interest in a job. Fantasy football then.
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ITFC_1994 added 15:08 - Jun 15

Anyone find all the names on the list very random... I think its just guess work from the bookies.

OGS been out of work for ages, average at United and Terrible at Cardiff. The talk about continuity from KM is utter crap imo.
This guy unlikely to be available
Rosenior on a break
Frank on a break
BBM has been managing in Ireland and League one, never going to take a chance on him. Getting promotion from the worst league 1 in years, with Cardiff, isn't a huge achievement

Only likely one is O'Neil and i can't see that happening due to his recent relegations- unless he interviews well and blows MA away (in view of Bents suggestion about how he sees the game etc.)

I think it will be someone left field who we have never heard of, or isn't on the radar.

I like the Carlo Corberan shouts, although would he leave Valencia for us....

COYB

JewellintheTown added 15:10 - Jun 15 Might be more straight forward to list all the managers it won't be. Who it is from the rest is anyone's guess.
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jas0999 added 15:13 - Jun 15 Not good news. I genuinely feel as a PL team we need someone with experience and attract the calibre of player required. I appreciate KM did well as an unknown, but that was league one and he had a decent budget by those standards. A complete unknown or no experience at even championship level would be too risky in my opinion.
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bluetoba added 15:14 - Jun 15 Get well soon boss.
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Linkboy13 added 15:17 - Jun 15 No matter the outcome of this season the in coming manager must be given time to build his own team.
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Len_Brennan added 15:37 - Jun 15 Everything in falling into place for the return of Big Sam.
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StamfordBlue added 15:50 - Jun 15 Could Ashton look to promoting Martin Pert instead maybe? He has history of appointing from within his current team (not always successfully, I might add).
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RetroBlue added 15:56 - Jun 15 Oh how convenient, lol. If it isn't " taking time out", its something else's isn't it.... A simple,sorry thanks for asking fellas but im happy where I am for now...or a simple , im not interested in uprooting just now.... On we move then. Disappointed with this tbh ...
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Dissboyitfc added 16:09 - Jun 15 Will be a surprise for sure!
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Razor added 16:24 - Jun 15 Hey it's worth waiting for the best and we must not be put off there are modern ways to do transfer business and bringing his star striker with him should not be a problem,
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:28 - Jun 15 Not getting any good vibes yet. With task of rebuilding squad , time will be very important , need to have players and manager bonded before ASAP.
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ip6blue added 16:35 - Jun 15 Back to the drawing board then
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TimmyH added 16:56 - Jun 15 Blimey!...things aren't going to plan so far this early off season, for a plethora of reasons. Just seen dirty's post above just before I've posted this and can't really disagree.
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Tufty added 17:17 - Jun 15 Bookies know no more than we do. Best wait see and trust the club
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Techrux added 17:33 - Jun 15 RetroBlue hes having surgery lol, confirmed. What a dishcloth you still prove to be.
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Marcus added 17:37 - Jun 15 The bookies odds are based on betting patterns over any inside knowledge. All speculation at this stage. I suspect an announcement is imminent presuming KM's departure announcement was planned rather than after an incident.
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Stato added 17:39 - Jun 15

Am I the onky Town suppirter who listened ti McKennas interview on the last day of the season and said well he aibt comubg back then. Surely a bright lad like Ashton had his brain on this before he was told 3 weeks ago ? The transfer window is open and we are waitung for a manager which is a terrible look. Hopefully an announcement before the weekend. England play Wednesday so maybe Thursday

armchaircritic59 added 18:04 - Jun 15

Well, transfer window is officially open. KM's departure was known to all nearly 3 weeks ago, so things on the managerial front should be close to completion, there are no excuses for it not to be, and in my humble opinion, next week is too late. We will wait and see. In the meantime I offer my sympathy's to KK, as I have a bit of a back problem at the moment, unfortunately it's nothing surgery can cure!