Interim boss Ryan Harley rules himself out of running for Peterborough United manager's job
Interim boss Ryan Harley has ruled himself out of the running to be the next permanent Peterborough United manager despite making a winning start against Colchester on Tuesday night.
Harley led Posh to a 3-1 home victory over the League Two side in the first match following Luke Williams’ Saturday sacking, but would not entertain a suggestion he was interested in the role on a permanent basis when asked by the PT at full-time.
When it was put him, Harley said: “There have been no conversations about staying on.”
When asked directly, if he had any interest in taking the job permanently, he said “Not at the minute, no.”
Harry Ashfield (twice) and Owura Edwards both netted their first goals for the club in the first half as Posh did enough to wrap up the victory.
Although Harley was pleased with the result, he was disappointed in some of the play in the second half as Posh faded and created few chances to extend the lead. Their lead was in fact cut but a Ronnie Harvey wonder-strike 10 minutes from time.
Harley said: “We played really well for the first half and for the first part of the second half, but we then came out of rhythm and structure and started playing a little bit crazy and too excited with the ball.
"I get it because it’s a different type of game so the players probably picked up on the fact that it was not a league game in front of a full house. They shouldn’t, but you just do.
“You can go and score five or six if you stay at it, but when you come off it, you let them back in. We still had some chances, but we should have had a lot more cleaner chances towards the end.
“We lacked the right decision making and chose the wrong actions at times and we should have scored another three. We didn’t test the goalkeeper enough in the second half. We didn’t find as many pockets of space and we didn’t get in behind quite as much, but we still had enough chances to score more, we just didn’t look fully convincing.
“We have got really electric and very exciting wingers, but they can always do better. They have to get better being on the back-post ready to score and with their end product.”
The interim boss sprung a surprise by naming a strong starting line-up with only three changes from Saturday’s defeat to Doncaster.
One of the changes was enforced with Lucca Mendonca replacing David Okagbue, who has left the squad to join with his Republic of Ireland Under 21 teammates. Ben Woods and Harry Ashfield were preferred to Harrison Jones and Danny Ormerod.
Explaining his decisions, Harley added: “It was an important game after losing the manager on Saturday. It’s always difficult. It’s been really tough with Luke leaving and we wanted to get straight back on it with a performance and victory as quickly as we could.
“Collin Ndeng Ndi is desperate to play, but it just felt right to play Bassy. He’s the number one goalkeeper and if Peterborough want to get a victory, you have a very good chance with him in goal.”
Posh currently sit second in the group after Luton thumped Ipswich Under 21s 6-0 in the other opening Group L tie on Tuesday night.
A managerial appointment does not appear to be imminent and Harley is due to be the man in the dugout as Posh head to Stockport on Saturday (September 26, 3pm).