Bristol City are looking for a more experienced head coach to come in and take the reins at Ashton Gate after Dean Holden left BS3 on Tuesday evening.
Following the 0-2 defeat to Reading, Holden was summoned to boardroom level and told that he was to step down, before the players were gathered and notified, with official confirmation at 10.59pm that City were replacing their summer appointment, following six losses in a row.
Bristol Live understands that no manager has been lined up and that all options are open as the club looks at the best way forward.
No approaches have yet been made and it may even be that the club waits until the summer to bring in the best candidate. The club does not conduct business behind anyone's back so no appointment is imminent.
City are minded to bring in an experienced and steady hand on the tiller to try and push the club onwards in their mission to make it to the Premier League, after the then caretaker manager Holden had won over the board in the summer with a clear pitch that made reference to the club's talents in the academy and with the idea on what was needed to get more positive results. However, nothing is set in stone.
Eddie Howe would be an ideal candidate but City are realistic that they might not be able to attract such a head coach currently.
The Robins spoke to Paul Cook in the summer and he will be considered again, though the former Wigan man was deemed as not the right fit culturally back then and the club's view on the former Portsmouth boss may not have changed since.
Michael Appleton has been mentioned to Bristol Live, who has experience of working with CEO Mark Ashton and who is doing sterling work with Lincoln City top of League One. While Mark Robins was also considered by the club in the summer, with the Coventry City boss having admirers on the City board still.
It remains to be seen if Nigel Pearson would be interested.
The search for a way forward begins now and despite a poor run of form and five injured left-backs, the managerial hot-seat should remain an enticing prospect. Many young talents have been blooded this season by Holden and the Robins are set to move in to their state of the art training ground next month.
The foundations are there to go on and push up the Championship with a few tweaks. The next days and weeks will be compelling viewing.
