4 ideal Luke Williams replacements Notts County must consider amid Oxford United development | OneFootball

After leading Notts County back to the EFL and having them in a prominent top seven position currently in League Two, Luke Williams was always going to have admiring glances cast from other clubs as a head coach.

But the Meadow Lane hierarchy's worst fears are perhaps about to come true as according to Football Insider, Oxford United are closing in on the 42-year-old as Liam Manning's replacement.

Williams has a 64 per cent win record as County's boss, so his seemingly imminent departure will be a huge blow to everyone involved and concerned at the club.

If he is to leave for the League One outfit though, Notts County must move quickly in order to not stall their promotion push, and they need a manager or head coach who will try to play football the same way that Williams does.

Let's take a look at FOUR individuals who should be considered to be Williams' replacement should he make the move to the U's.

Leam Richardson

It's somewhat of a shock that Richardson is not in a job a year after he was harshly sacked as manager of Wigan Athletic, but he is perhaps waiting for the right opportunity to come available.

Having managed Accrington Stanley for six months earlier in his career, Richardson shadowed Paul Cook for a number of years before breaking off on his own right to manage Wigan, saving them from relegation to League Two amid major financial issues, and then 12 months later he got them promoted back to the Championship.

Still only 43 years of age, Richardson would surely jump at the chance to join a progressive club, even if it means dropping into League Two.

Phil Parkinson

No, not the Wrexham one.

There is another Phil Parkinson doing well in management and he is currently in charge of National League side Altrincham, where he has been for over six years after moving from Nantwich Town.

The 42-year-old currently has the Greater Manchester outfit punching well above their weight in the National League as they sit fourth in the table, which shows the job he's done after guiding them from the Northern Premier League to the fifth tier of English football.

Could Parkinson be ready for the jump into the EFL? He certainly should be considered for it.

Brian Barry-Murphy

This one could be highly ambitious as Barry-Murphy might have his sights on bigger first-team jobs, but he's currently coaching some of the best academy prospects in the country as Man City as their under-21's head coach.

Barry-Murphy was praised as Rochdale manager a few years ago for the progressive style of football played in League One despite their lowly budget, and that is what led to him being hired by City.

If he wants to get back into first-team management though, there may be no more ideal replacement for Williams than the 45-year-old Irishman.

Mehmet Ali

Another under-21's head coach who should be on Notts County's radar is Ali, who is in charge of Arsenal's development squad.

The 37-year-old spent time as Reading's under-21's boss until 2021, which is when he was hired by the Gunners, initially as their assistant boss for the same age group.

Ali has been in charge though since last summer and that experience could lead him into the EFL, and he is bound to be progressive given where he's working and who he is working with.