The Derby County supporting punters who were present here in the Transfer Tavern on Monday evening were sent into a surprised state, when the landlord announced the breaking news that Rams boss Paul Clement had been relieved of his duties.
The East Midlands-based club are fifth in the Championship table and are just five points behind league leaders Hull City, remaining finely poised for an attempt at promotion.
Chairman Mel Morris has made the bizarre decision to appoint youth team manager Darren Wassall, who had been handed the managerial reigns until the end of the season, despite the former Rams central defender having never managed a senior side.
Who gets the job permanently remains to be seen and talk in the Tavern has turned to who might be tasked with the challenge from next season.
One Rams fan is sat in the smoking area at the back of the Tavern and thinks the hierarchy’s trigger happy approach might put some of the bigger names off taking the role at Derby.
Lee Clarke takes a look at FIVE managers who the Rams could turn to next……
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE 5 MANAGERS!
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Brendan Rodgers
The man who departed Liverpool earlier in the season is currently on a sabbatical until the end of the season, when he is set to make a judgment on the next chapter in his managerial career.
Derby have the infrastructure and facilities to tempt a manager of Rodgers’ ilk, and who could forget the brand of free-flowing football that Swansea City played during their promotion season under the Northern Irishman’s stewardship.
Much will depend on which division Derby are to play in next season with is highly unlikely that Rodgers will drop back into the Championship having spent time with Liverpool.
David Moyes
The ex-Manchester United boss has said he is eager to return to management following an unsuccessful spell in Spain with Real Sociedad, but that he will wait for the right opportunity.
Derby would represent an interesting project for the Scottish manager to get his teeth stuck into, as the playing staff needs no work whatsoever at present which would allow any incoming boss the chance to hit the ground running.
Moyes’ style of play might not be the most attractive but his record of establishing Everton as a top-half Premier League outfit will not go unnoticed with the Derby hierarchy.
Garry Monk
The likeable character was harshly sacked by Swansea City earlier this season after nothing more than a blip and Monk looks destined to get back into management at some point.
His sacking by the Swans ended an association of over ten years with the south Wales outfit which shows that Monk has loyalty in abundance.
Having not managed in the Championship, the Rams decision makers may see that as a negative, but having played at the level for many years, he should know enough about the league to make a decent fist of the job.
Gary Rowett
The Birmingham City boss adhered himself to the Rams’ faithful during a three-year spell between 1995 and 1998, where he played over 100 times for the club.
The former right-back would arguably be the most popular choice with the club’s supporters and he would certainly understand the values of working for a club like Derby County.
The stumbling block could be Rowett’s personal desire to continue the fantastic work which he has started at Birmingham City, where he has transformed them from relegation fodder into serious play-off contenders in just over a calendar year.
Adam Murray
Another ex-Ram currently managing in the Football League is Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray, who played 54 times for the club whilst they were in the Premier League and later the Championship.
Okay, so it is highly unlikely that the Rams would trust Murray with such a star studded squad given that he has only been in management around 18-months and has only worked in League Two, but like Rowett he would appreciate the values of the football club.
Murray has put the Stags firmly in contention for a place in next season’s League One with the club currently four points away from an automatic promotion place.
