Clinton Morrison believes Chris Hughton should be Bristol City's first-choice target to replace Lee Johnson.
The Robins sacked Johnson after four years at the club following Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Cardiff City.
The defeat, a fourth in a row since returning from lockdown, leaves the Robins 12th in the table, nine points adrift of the top-six with five games left to go.
With that in mind, the club hierarchy decided it was time for a fresh set of eyes and Johnson was relieved of his duties shortly after the full-time whistle at Ashton Gate.
With the owners now in search of a new manager to lead a promotion push next season, Morrison believes there is no better man for the job than Hughton, who successfully steered Brighton to promotion in 2017.
"There is one man in particular. That's Chris Hughton for me," Morrison told EFL on Quest.
"He's been out a job for a long time. He's the perfect man, he gets clubs promoted out of the Championship and he is a brilliant manager."
On the decision to part company with Johnson with five games to go, he said: "I'm surprised at the timing because the hierarchy at Bristol might think they have an outside chance of getting into the play-offs.
"That's why they have sacked him now with so much small games left to go in the season. I am surprised but the results have not been good enough. Bristol City fans will tell you it's not been good enough.
"Before lockdown they were struggling. It always happens with Bristol City, they start well, you think this will be their season and then after lockdown it has been really disappointing.
"You don't ever like to see a manager lose his job but if you don't get the results that is what will happen."
