Former Tottenham boss Martin Jol is being linked with the vacant manager's job at Aston Villa.
Jol rejected a move to Fulham after lengthy negotiations with the Cottagers last month.
The Daily Mail says the timing of Martin O'Neill's departure, five days before the start of the Premier League season, could hardly have been worse. Reserve team manager Kevin MacDonald has been made caretaker boss, with Sven Goran Eriksson the immediate favourite to take over, although he is unlikely to fit the profile set by the American hierarchy.
United States manager Bob Bradley is also heavily fancied. However, Jurgen Klinsmann was reportedly the No 2 target when O'Neill was appointed in 2006 and Ajax boss Jol will also feature highly on any shortlist.
