Sam Allardyce has been sounded out by a consortium planning a takeover bid for Bolton Wanderers.
Bolton are currently third from the bottom of the Barclays Premier League and there is a fans' protest planned against manager Gary Megson and chairman Phil Gartside before today's make-or-break game against West Ham at the Reebok Stadium.
Allardyce and Reid are believed to be hesitant about getting involved as both have hopes of getting back into football as managers in the near future.
But it seems inevitable now that Gartside and the club's owner Eddie Davies - who has 94.5 per cent of its holding company - will come under pressure to at least discuss Bolton's future, especially if they are relegated.