Leicester City director of football John Rudkin is tasked with finding a new manager after this week's shock sacking of Nigel Pearson.

The Daily Mail says he has a close working relationship with vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and an appointment to galvanise fans who are still in disbelief that Pearson has gone is his priority. The task will be to keep Leicester in the Premier League.

Rudkin is expected to be inundated with applications. Steve Cotterill is one option, having guided Bristol City into the Championship last season.

Guus Hiddink, 68, offers experience and a pull in the Far East given his success with South Korea, and the former Chelsea manager left his role coaching the Dutch national side on Monday.

Martin O'Neill is a romantic choice given his remarkable triumphs in the late Nineties, and Esteban Cambiasso could take on the role of player-coach.

Craig Shakespeare and Steve Walsh, Pearson's assistants, are in charge while the search goes on.