Bristol City's U23 Development Squad coach Luke Williams is being linked with a move to a vacant first-team post.
The former Swindon Town boss has been named as being of interest to Southend United, as the League One club look for a replacement for Chris Powell, who left the Shrimpers last week.
The HITC Sport website - who also broke news that Steve McClaren was to be sacked on Monday morning and was not a misplaced April Fool's Joke - reports that Williams is on the shortlist to take over at Roots Hall.
However there is said to be plenty of interest in the post, with a former Bristol Rovers boss linked to the hot seat.
Chairman Ron Martin was reported as fielding more than 30 applicants across the weekend by the local Echo outlet.
Paul Hurst and Steve Evans were two of the high profile names linked with the position while former Rovers boss Darrell Clarke is also said to be interested, although Clarke has also been linked with Yeovil Town too.
Bristol City already have an interest in the position, with loanee central defender or right-back Taylor Moore playing in Essex at the Blues for this season.
Williams has been at Ashton Gate since June 2017 and is well regarded in BS3. Southend United have now gone 12 games without a win and sit 20th in the League One standings, above the relegation zone on goal difference.
An appointment is expected soon, with former defender Adam Barrett the favourite for the job currently.
Former Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill is 12/1 for the job with bookmakers, too - and is made the fifth favourite at the time of writing.
Odds for the Southend job currently:
- Adam Barrett 1/1
- Lee Clark 4/1
- Paul Hurst 4/1
- Steve Evans 6/1
- Steve Cotterill 12/1
- Ricky Duncan 16/1
