Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst continues to be linked with the Blues manager’s job.
According to The Sun on Sunday, Hurst is interesting Town owner Marcus Evans, who it's said will wait until the outcome of the League One play-offs - the Shrews will finish third in League One - before naming his new manager with the final at Wembley on May 27th.
Hurst was one of the first names mentioned in connection with the Blues vacancy after former boss Mick McCarthy announced that he would be departing at the end of last month and TWTD understands the 43-year-old is among the potential new bosses to be recommended to Evans.
The Town owner, who confirmed he is likely to make the appointment at the end of May or early in June earlier this week, has widely sought opinion from his contacts in the game - who include agents as well as senior football figures such as David Pleat - as he searches for his new boss.
Hurst has impressed since taking over at the Montgomery Waters Meadow in October 2016 having worked within a limited budget, something he would have to do if he were to be appointed at Portman Road.
Former Rotherham left-back Hurst was previously joint-manager of Ilkeston Town, Boston United and Grimsby alongside his former Millers team-mate Rob Scott before taking charge of the Mariners on his own in 2013.
In addition to the names proposed to Evans as he begins the process of appointing his new manager - interviews are understood to be starting this week - Town have received around 100 applications for the job with a number of very experienced bosses believed to be among those to have initiated contact.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard, also among those to have been recommended to Evans, looks increasingly likely to be appointed the new Rangers manager with reports this morning indicating that the Liverpool legend has agreed to take the Ibrox job with his former Anfield team-mate Gary McAllister set to be his number two.
Betting-wise, ex-Blues striker Shefki Kuqi remains the favourite with Bet Victor at 3-1 with Wigan manager Paul Cook at 6-1, Hurst and Tony Mowbray at 12-1, Sol Campbell at 16-1 and former Rangers, Nottingham Forest and Brentford boss Mark Warburton at 20-1 alongside Taiwan manager Gary White.