The search is on for a new manager at Dundee United following the departure of Jack Ross.
Ross was relieved of his duties on Tuesday following his side's calamitous 9-0 battering at the hands of Premiership champions Celtic on Sunday. The former Hibs and Sunderland manager lasted just 10 weeks at Tannadice in a reign that got off to the perfect start with a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in Europa Conference League qualifying.
But after AZ roared back to demolish United 7-0 in the second leg, Ross' reign crumbled rapidly. Heavy defeats to Hearts and St Mirren quickly followed by the weekend nadir at the hands of Ange Postecoglou 's men.
It leaves the United board in a scenario that seemed unthinkable when the full-time whistle sounded on a famous night in Ross ' first match in charge, but they must now sift through the wreckage of the weekend humiliation and find the right candidate to steer the club back on track.
David Healy
The former Northern Ireland international striker has brought consistent success to Linfield in recent years, winning five NIFL Premiership titles, two Irish Cups and an Irish League Cup. He also came within a whisker of being the first manager to guide a Northern Irish side to the group stage of a UEFA competition as the Blues lost out agonisingly on penalties to RFS in Europa Conference League qualifying last week.
Despite that success, he's previously admitted he wouldn't want to overstay his welcome at Windsor Park and has claimed he's never quite won the fans over. The Scottish Premiership would be a step-up for the 43-year-old but he does have a decent track record.
Kevin Thomson
When Thomson left Kelty Hearts at the end of last season it was was broadly assumed he wouldn't be out of work for long having attracted considerable attention during his spell in charge. But fast forward to September and he remains a free agent.
He interviewed for the Kilmarnock job before they opted for Derek McInnes and has also been linked with Dundee, Motherwell, Hartlepool and Raith Rovers. It'd be a different challenge for the 37-year-old, whose Kelty side were a strong League Two outfit, but it would certainly fit with his ambitions of being a full-time coach.
John Kennedy
The long-serving Celtic coach's name usually makes its way into the mix when a Premiership job goes up for grabs but it's not without good reason. Kennedy may have refrained from making the step into full-time management just yet but it's no secret how highly thought of he is at Celtic Park.
Only a few weeks ago he was considered for the top post at Midtjylland in the Danish Super Liga. They eventually chose Barcelona academy director Albert Capellas for the role but it's another sign of Kennedy's good reputation, even out with Scottish football.
Liam Fox
When Micky Mellon returned to Tranmere the season before last, United chose to promote from within and appoint Tam Courts. Could they be tempted to do so again with Liam Fox?
Fox was assistant to Courts during his single, successful campaign in charge but has managerial experience in his own right, in an admittedly disappointing spell at Cowdenbeath. However, the fact he remained as part of Ross' backroom team after Courts left for Hungary shows a coach held in high regard at Tannadice and the club could be tempted to repeat a formula that's already worked.
He will, at least, get the chance to put himself in the frame as interim manager.
Michael O'Neill
A former United player, the timing could just be right for Michael O'Neill to take the reins at Tannadice. He left Stoke City after three years in midweek, having rescued the club from what looked likely to be relegation to League One after joining in 2019.
O'Neill's most notable exploits were in guiding an unfancied and unfashionable Northern Ireland side to Euro 2016, recording a surprise win over Ukraine in the group stage. He'd inherit a United side more than capable of escaping their current early season predicament, one many were tipping to challenge at the top end of the Premiership table this term.
O'Neill has never managed in European club football, either, and perhaps the chance to take the Terrors into the Europa League or Europa Conference League would be an appealing one. However, whether he fancies returning to Scotland at all is another question.
Barry Robson
A popular figure during his five years roaming the midfield at Tannadice, Robson appears a popular early choice with some United fans on social media. He served as interim manager at Aberdeen following Stephen Glass' departure and is currently in charge of the club's U-18 side.
Going from the academy to the top-flight is a considerable leap but, following years of what felt like the same names being recycled for every manager's job in the country, supporters these days are increasingly receptive to more daring appointments and the possibility their club could unearth a managerial gem. Of course, clubs won't base their recruitment solely on social media polls but supporters are demanding a more progressive approach.
Robson lacks experience but will be ambitious, is well thought of Aberdeen and wouldn't require a breaking of the bank with the season already under way.
Duncan Ferguson
If ever there was a football character made for "the cinch", it's surely big Dunc. OK, that's hardly a sound criteria for appointing a manager but the former United striker has two spells as Everton caretaker manager under his belt and has stated his ambition to become the main man outright.
His is the name that seems to be generating greatest traction online among United supporters and would certainly be the kind of appointment that'd galvanise a fanbase. Ferguson left Goodison Park at the end of last season to try and land a manager's job but remains a free agent.
He'd certainly be a popular choice and has even entered the betting at 10/1.
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