St Mirren boss Jack Ross is the latest manager to be mentioned in connection with the Blues’ job which will become vacant when Mick McCarthy departs in the summer.
According to the Evening Standard Ross, 41, is among the candidates to become Charlton manager - although the Addicks have now appointed ex-Blues midfielder Lee Bowyer for the remainder of the season - and is also said to be on the Portman Road shortlist, although it’s unlikely Town are at the stage of reducing the candidates to replace McCarthy that far.
Ross, who turned down the chance to manage Barnsley after talks in February, took charge at St Mirren in January 2017 and saved them from relegation. This season Falkirk-born Ross has taken the Buddies into a 12-point lead at the top of the table.
The one-time Hartlepool, Falkirk, St Mirren and Hamilton Academical defender, who won one Scotland B cap during his playing days, began his management career at Alloa in December 2015 having been on the staff at Dumbarton, where he was assistant manager, and then Hearts.
After failing to prevent the Wasps from being relegated into Scottish League One in his first half-season, Ross subsequently took them on a club record 10-game winning run the following campaign prior to his move to his current club.
Ross (right) during his playing days with the Buddies
Elsewhere, Alan Pardew, who left West Brom at the weekend, and Lincoln’s Danny Cowley are currently the bookies’ favourites to take over at Town, both at 4-1 with Bet Victor, although there seems little other than rumour to suggest either are leading candidates.
Behind them in the running are former coach and skipper Tony Mowbray, at 8-1. The Blackburn manager is understood to be very much among owner Marcus Evans’s favoured targets with his one-time boss George Burley also citing the 54-year-old as his number one choice to succeed McCarthy.
Tabloid-linked Steve McClaren is also at 8-1 ahead of former Brentford, Rangers and Nottingham Forest boss Mark Warburton, also the subject of newspaper speculation, and Wigan manager Paul Cook, both at 10-1.
Former Blues striker Shefki Kuqi, who was at Monday’s game against Millwall, having confirmed that he’d be interested in the Town job when on BBC Radio Suffolk's Life’s a Pitch last month, is at 14-1.
McCarthy, who watched the Blues’ U23s beat Cardiff this afternoon, continues to be linked with West Brom having joked with Midlands reporters after the Birmingham game regarding his history with their great rivals Wolves.
"The Albion? That would piss a few people off wouldn’t it?” he laughed when the possibility of him managing at the Hawthorns was put to him. "But you know me, I like pissing people off!”
Now, Sky Sports are reporting that McCarthy would be interested in taking the job, believing he could see them back into the Premier League next season with relegation this term now appearing inevitable.
As previously reported, Baggies technical director Nick Hammond was at Portman Road on Monday watching the Blues' 2-2 draw with Millwall.