Former Hearts boss Graham Rix and current Northampton manager Colin Calderwood are the latest names in the frame for the Town manager's job. The Blues are reported to want to speak to the Cobblers regarding Calderwood, while Rix is said to be amongst those to have applied.

Calderwood, 41, took his Northampton side to automatic promotion from League Two after finishing second behind Carlisle this season. The former Spurs centre-half, once red-carded at Portman Road, has been Cobblers boss since October 2003 and has a record which reads: Played 154, won 74, lost 40, drawn 40.

The former Scotland international is contracted at Sixfields until 2008 and has also been linked with Nottingham Forest since his side's promotion. Calderwood's assistant is former Town striker John Deehan, who was a scout for the Blues until taking his role with Northampton.

Rix, 48, had a brief but controversial spell at Hearts last season after succeeding former Town boss George Burley at Tynecastle.

Previously, the former Arsenal man, who played in the 1978 FA Cup final against the Blues, had had unsuccessful spells with Portsmouth and Oxford after making his name as a coach at Chelsea under Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli.

Rix's appointment at Hearts was not universally welcomed by fans due to his conviction as a child sex offender in 1999 when he was found guilty of unlawful sex with a 15-year old girl.

Elsewhere, Southend have issued a hands off warning regarding their manager Steve Tilson, a name quickly associated with the Town job when Joe Royle made his exit.

Chairman Ron Martin, keen to extend the contracts of Tilson and assistant Paul Brush until 2010, isn't surprised that there is speculation regarding the Shrimpers' boss: "Many clubs are in the process of searching for a new manager who has been successful.

"After back-to-back promotions, Steve Tilson falls into the category of a successful manager and we would be surprised if we were not approached by clubs interested in him.

"Steve Tilson is very happy here and has two years left on his existing contract."

Meanwhile, sources in Ireland have told TWTD that contrary to widespread reports, former Ireland boss Brian Kerr has not applied to take over at Portman Road.

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