Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie has inevitably been linked with the Blues with his exit from Selhurst Park expected later today. The former Northern Ireland international has also been linked with Charlton.

If Dowie does leave the Eagles, apparently after a row with chairman Simon Jordan, he will probably seek to bounce back into management as soon as possible.

Premiership Charlton would be an obvious destination, but the Addicks are already set to talk to Preston's Billy Davies. Sunderland may also be interested in the highly-rated Palace boss.

Elsewhere, Colchester manager Phil Parkinson has said he is "disappointed" not to be allowed to speak to Town, Charlton and Derby, but has reiterated his desire to remain with the U's.

On-gardening-leave QPR boss Ian Holloway has confirmed that he has approached Town via his agent and is reported to have been amongst those interviewed by chairman David Sheepshanks and chief executive Derek Bowden in London last week. Holloway has already spoken to Millwall regarding their vacancy and is also being mentioned in connection with Yeovil.

Ex-Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy is also said to be one of those already spoken to with regards to succeeding Joe Royle and is also in the running for the Derby job, as is the former Town boss.

Sheepshanks and Bowden are set to continue the interview process this week, a short-list having been drawn-up from the 40-plus applicants which included some foreign bosses.

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