[bigiain]

If it were me, I'd still put in someone who'd been an actual manager - even if it were from 4-5 years back - there's a few questions hiring managers ask about what you were like to manage that can only be answered by someone who's managed you - things not related to your current skillset, but more about thins like attitudes to authority, curiosity, adaptability, teamwork, willingness and speed of learning - stuff like that.

[jackgolding]

Yup over half of recruiters or HR I've dealt with have wanted a current manager as a must have.