Former Bristol Rovers manager Graham Coughlan has declared his interest in the vacancy at the Gas' League Two rivals Walsall, according to reports, as he bids to make a return to management.
Coughlan, who was also linked with the Doncaster Rovers job in December, had been working as Under-23 coach at Sheffield United following his dismissal at Mansfield Town in October 2020, but left Bramall Lane in the summer.
The Express & Star report that the Dubliner, who succeeded former Walsall boss Darrell Clarke at the Mem, is keen on the role having spent some time out of the game.
Coughlan took over at Rovers in December 2018 following the ending of Clarke's long and impressive reign and enjoyed a hugely successful 12 months at the helm, keeping the Gas in League One and then taking them to fourth in the table before his abrupt departure to Mansfield.
Despite the solidity and consistency he delivered on the field, his style of football never endeared himself to the Rovers fanbase at large and that coupled with his family being based in Sheffield helped influence his desire to leave BS7.
His time at Field Mill didn't replicate his spell with Rovers, however, as despite possessing a large budget in League Two and with expectations on securing promotion he was sacked after 12 winless games into the 2019/20 season.
Walsall technical director Jamie Fullarton is leading the search for a new manager with the Saddlers 21st in League Two and former Bristol City head coach Dean Holden has been made the early favourite by bookmakers.
Holden, who is currently serving as Michael O'Neill's No2 at Stoke City, but made 34 appearances as a Walsall player at the tail-end of his career and could be tempted back into management.
The 42-year-old was surprisingly appointed to the City job in the summer of 2020, following Lee Johnson's dismissal, ahead of more experienced candidates but after an impressive start, with the Robins stationed in the top six, injuries and a chronic loss of form saw him sacked in February last year.
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