Peterborough United need to get their next appointment right, and Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard should be at the front of the queue.
Luke Williams’ dismissal after the 2-0 home defeat against Doncaster Rovers leaves Posh second-bottom of League One, without a win in five league games and needing someone capable of getting more from the players already there.
For me, that is precisely why Garrard makes sense. His work at Boreham Wood, a team he has put at the top of the National League table, has demonstrated an ability to organise a side, identify advantages against opponents and make limited resources stretch further than they reasonably should. Those qualities would be valuable anywhere, but particularly at a club whose immediate priority is turning an underperforming squad into a competitive team.
The strongest part of his case is the detail behind his football. Garrard’s use of data and opposition analysis gives his players a clear understanding of where games can be won, with preparation providing an advantage that cannot always be bought. Peterborough need a manager who can identify what this squad does well and create the conditions for those strengths to emerge consistently.
Posh have a decent squad. In Harry Leonard, they have a top-end League One striker, and players such as Chris Conn-Clarke, David Okagbue and Matt Garbutt have no business at the bottom end of the table. They may not have proven it yet, but this Peterborough squad is midtable at the very worst. They need belief; they need a manager who can work with what he has, not come in to overhaul and firefight.
Garrard should appeal to supporters who have watched the opening weeks unravel. When confidence drains away, players need clarity about their responsibilities, where support will come from and what happens when possession changes hands. A strong tactical organiser can provide that reassurance, and Garrard strikes me as someone capable of making the game feel manageable again.
There is also a danger of looking at his non-league background and assuming Peterborough would be appointing a manager whose only answer is to make things ugly. Boreham Wood’s football has evolved, with a more attacking approach sitting alongside the preparation and organisation. That willingness to develop is an important part of the attraction, especially for a club that should still want to entertain.
His work with younger players strengthens the argument. Ted Curd, Zak Brunt, Charlie O’Connell and Abdul Abdulmalik offer examples of the talent he has trusted, and that willingness to give players responsibility would suit Peterborough. Development requires a manager who can explain what he wants, tolerate mistakes and help a player understand how to improve without stripping away his confidence.
Abdulmalik’s move to Djurgarden for an initial £1.5m, a National League record, gives that discussion a tangible outcome. Garrard cannot take sole credit for a player’s progress, but creating an environment in which ability becomes valuable first-team output is a significant part of the job. Peterborough should recognise the appeal of a coach who can improve performances while helping develop saleable assets.
Of course, getting him would be the difficult part. Boreham Wood chairman Danny Hunter’s determination to secure proper value for Abdulmalik suggests Peterborough would expect a firm negotiating position over their manager. There is no reason to assume Garrard would be available cheaply, and the compensation required could become a serious obstacle to any approach.
There would also be an adjustment to League One, and nobody should pretend that success at Meadow Park guarantees success elsewhere. However, dismissing him because he has done his best work below the EFL would overlook the skills Peterborough actually need. The question is whether his coaching, preparation and management can improve this team, and I believe they can.
Garrard offers a convincing combination of immediate practical value and longer-term potential. He can give Peterborough an organised team with a plan for each opponent while helping younger players become better footballers. If Posh are prepared to invest in the appointment, this looks like an opportunity to bring in a manager whose strengths fit the challenge, and whose next step should be into the Football League.
Also, he left Boreham Wood and came back. Peterborough do like a manager who is happy to come back for a second (or third) series!
