Aitor Karanka has left his post at Nottingham Forest after he asked the club to be released from his contract after a year in charge.
The Spaniard, who replaced Mark Warburton in January 2018, leaves Forest 7th in the Championship - just four points off the play-offs - with a record of 16 wins, 19 draws, and 17 defeats from his time at the helm.
Focus has immediately turned to who will replace Karanka in the next Nottingham Forest manager market, so here are four of the early names in the frame for the latest second-tier vacancy.
Slavisa Jokanovic
After a couple of months break from the chaotic world of football management, the former Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is now being linked with a swift return, and finds himself installed as the early frontrunner for the job.
Jokanovic is an attractive option considering that he has two Premier League promotions to his name, with Watford and Fulham, leading the latter up to the Promised Land via the play-offs last season. While his attractive style of football would be most welcome.
David Moyes
Rumours were rife that the former Man Utd manager was set to return to the dugout with Stoke following the departure of Gary Rowett earlier this week, however the Potters instead opted to lure Nathan Jones from Luton Town.
Moyes has been out-of-work since the summer, and while he hasn’t managed in the Championship since Preston in 2002, he could now find himself in the mix to succeed Karanka at Forest.
Gary Rowett
Could Forest appoint a former Derby boss?
Gary Rowett is back in the Job Centre having lost his job at Stoke on Tuesday. Last season he led Derby to the play-off semi-finals, but after losing to Fulham, he opted to switch to Stoke who had just been relegated from the Premier League.
But, while it didn’t work out at the Potters, Rowett will no doubt be eager to put the disappointment behind him and throw himself into another job. Given his Derby links, an appointment is unlikely to be too popular with the fans...
Martin O’Neill
The Nottingham Forest legend spent 10 years at the club as a player, where he twice lifted the European Cup, the European Super Cup, a couple of League Cups, the Charity Shield, and old First Division.
O’Neill parted company with the Republic of Ireland back in November, and could well prove to be an option until the end of the season.
Simon Ireland will take charge of the club until a new manager is appointed.
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