Dean Saunders sacked: Five favourites to become next Wolves manager

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Dean Saunders has been sacked as Wolves manager Credit: Nick Potts/PA Wire/Press Association Images

With Dean Saunders sacked as manager of Wolves, here are five favourites to take up the role with the club now in League One.

KENNY JACKETT:

  • Odds: 6/4 (favourite)

  • Teams managed: Watford (1996-7), Swansea City (2004-7), Millwall (2007-13)

  • Achievements: Football League Trophy (2006-7), FAW Premier Cup (2005-6, 2006-7), League One Play-off winners (2009-10)

Jackett initially enjoyed little success as manager of Watford, finishing 13th in Division Two in 1996-7 (their lowest finish in nearly 20 years). He was then demoted to assistant manager in place of Graham Taylor.

After a period of time as assistant manager Jackett made the step up once more as he became the Swansea manager in April 2004. In his first season in charge they won promotion to League One and won the FAW Premier Cup. He then oversaw a successful second season with the club just missing out on back-to-back promotions after losing in the play-offs.

Jackett became Millwall manager in 2008 and he guided them to the League One Play-offs. But, once again, he suffered heartbreak after losing the final 3-2 against Scunthorpe. Once more they finished in the play-offs the following season, just missing out on automatic promotion.

This time they beat Swindon Town 1-0 to win promotion to The Championship. In the next three seasons he kept the club comfortably in the division, including a semi-final appearance in the FA Cup. He resigned today (7 May) from his role.

DARREN FERGUSON:

Darren Ferguson is one of the favourites to take over as Wolves manager Credit: Stephen Pond/PA Wire/Press Association Images

  • Odds to become next manager: 4/1

  • Clubs managed: Peterborough United (2007-9 & 2011), Preston North End (2010)

  • Achievements: League One Play-off winners (2011), promotion to Championship (2008-9), promotion to League One (2007-8)

Ferguson is an experienced manager despite being relatively young at 41. He was appointed as player manager for Peterborough Utd in 2007 and led the club to promotion to League One in his first full season in charge. He then made it back-to-back promotions for The Posh as they went up to The Championship.

He left Peterborough by mutual consent and took up a role at Preston North End. But after a poor first season with the club bottom of The Championship Ferguson was sacked.

His father, and Man Utd manager, Alex Ferguson was so outraged that he recalled all three of his loan players from Preston and instructed Stoke manager Tony Pulis to do the same.

Ferguson then returned to Peterborough where he took the club back up to The Championship in 2011. After two years there the team was relegated again with 54 points, the highest for a relegated team in history.

OWEN COYLE:

Owen Coyle was manager of Bolton Wanderers Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Archive/Press Association Images

  • Odds to become next manager: 6/1

  • Clubs managed: Falkirk (2003), St. Johnstone (2005-7), Burnley (2007-10), Bolton Wanderers (2010,2012)

  • Achievements: Scottish First Division Champions (2002-3), Championships Play-offs winner (2007-8)

Coyle was a huge success at St. Johnstone where he took the club to the semi-finals of the Scottish League cup after a 2-0 away win over Rangers - their first in 35 years.

He also took them up to the SPL and, in his first season in the top flight, took St. Johnstone to the 2007 Scottish Challenge Cup Final.

Coyle then signed with Burnley and within two years had taken them to the Premier League for the first time. In their first match in the top-flight for 33 years they beat defending champions Man Utd 1-0.

KARL ROBINSON:

Karl Robinson was, when appointed at MK Dons, the youngest manager in the Football League Credit: Andrew Matthews/EMPICS Sport

  • Odds: 10/1

  • Teams managed: MK Dons (2010-present)

Considered one of the brightest young prospects in the Football League, Robinson became manager of MK Dons in 2010 at 30 years of age. He has taken the club to consecutive play-off appearances before finishing 8th this season in League One.

MICKY ADAMS:

Micky Adams is the current manager of Port Vale Credit: PA Wire/PA Wire/Press Association Images

  • Odds: 16/1

  • Teams managed: Fulham (1996-7), Swansea City (1997), Brentford (1997-8), Nottingham Forest (1999), Brighton & Hove Albion (1999-2001 & 2008-9), Leicester City (2002-4), Coventry City (2005-7), Sheffield Utd (2010-11), Port Vale (2009-10 & 2011-present)

  • Achievements: promotion to Second Division (1996-7, 2000-1), promotion to the Premier League (2002-3), promotion to League One (2012-13)

One of the most experienced candidates on the list, Adams has enjoyed recent promotion success at Port Vale.

He struggled initially, at one point taking three managerial positions in one season in 1996-7.

Adams found success at Brighton where he signed young striker Bobby Zamora who helped them to promotion from the bottom tier of the league.

He finally landed his dream job of managing in the Premiership but it proved to be towards the end of their final season there. Despite the club owing more than £30m of debt, Adams guided them to immediate promotion to the top-flight. The Foxes were relegated once more and Adams eventually resigned in 2004 with the club in The Championship.

After another spell at Brighton, Adams took on the managerial role at Port Vale. He attracted media attention after placing the whole squad on the transfer list after a series of poor performances.

Adams then landed the Sheffield United job, the club he supported as a kid, but the club were relegated to League One. He rejoined Port Vale and guided them to League One this season.