"If I do a half-decent job it may open the door for a lot of people, men like John Deehan and John Duncan, rather than having the same faces on the same merry-go-round.''

David Jones would already appear to be doing a half-decent job as manager of Southampton but his wish, expressed in an interview with the Independent a fortnight ago, already appears wishful thinking. Jones was not thinking specifically of Ron Atkinson when he spoke of the "same faces'', but he could have been. Big Ron is a veteran of the managerial merry-go-round. When any job vacancy, big or small, crops up his name appears in the headlines. But why?

Atkinson has had success but not as much as his reputation would suggest. Four cups and three promotions is a poor return on 28 years of management. He has a justified reputation for building attractive sides but, too often, they have failed to sustain their promise - most notably the Manchester United side of 1985-86 which won their first 10 matches but finished fourth, 12 points adrift of the title. The reasons for the collapse are unclear but it may be telling that, when Alex Ferguson took over, he was unhappy with the fitness and attitude of many of the players he inherited.

Atkinson gained a measure of revenge when he outwitted Ferguson tactically in Aston Villa's 1994 Coca-Cola Cup win over United but since that success Atkinson has seemed off the pace. His last 21 League matches at Aston Villa brought two victories, three draws and 16 defeats; his 64 League matches in charge at Coventry brought 14 victories and 26 defeats despite spending the unparalleled sum of pounds 15.6m. He was unceremoniously shunted upstairs and retirement into TV punditry beckoned.

Now Wednesday have given him another chance and the majority of supporters, remembering the elan his team played with, have forgiven his abrupt departure. They may feel there was little alternative, but if Wednesday had looked into the lower divisions they would have found several. As well as Deehan and Duncan there are Alan Curbishley, Chris Kamara, Stan Ternent, John Gregory, John Ward, Tony Pulis, Ian Atkins, Sam Allardyce, Mick Wadsworth and Peter Fox. Or how about John Rudge, still producing miracles at Port Vale?

Wednesday may counter that, for all their qualities these men are ill- equipped in the post-Bosman world whereas Atkinson has the contacts. Look at who he found for Coventry... remember Reggie Genaux, Nii Lamptey, Isaias, Carlita?

It may be that Wednesday have decided a bright young manager is their target, but have promised not to approach Barnsley's Danny Wilson until the end of the season. If so Ron's last outing will be a cameo, but if he fails it will probably be an expensive one. If he keeps them up, as he should do given the quality in the side, will they still replace him, or hope the magic lasts?