hold the fort

Could he hold the fort while a wider search goes on?

That doesn't mean if Pochettino's time at Chelsea is an unmitigated disaster they can't haul Lampard back for a third time to hold the fort, such is the barmy nature of professional football these days.

GM Pat Verbeek inherited coach Dallas Eakins and knew there was no hope the team would contend, so Verbeek hoped Eakins could at least hold the fort and help their kids develop.

McCullum acknowledged the work done by the previous regime to "hold the fort together".

“We’ve got to hold the fort down until he’s ready.”