Derby County parted company with Phillip Cocu and his backroom staff yesterday after just 16 months in charge at the iPro Stadium.

The legendary Dutchman couldn't get his team firing this season, as the Rams found themselves bottom of the Championship table after 11 games.

Despite the Derby fanbase respecting Cocu and praising his attitude and character, it's hard to argue that a change in personnel needed to be made.

Wayne Rooney has been widely touted as a potential successor to Cocu, and has been ever since he arrived as a player/coach in January. but it's another big name that the County hierarchy should be trying to tempt to Derbyshire.

Eddie Howe has been out of work since parting company with his beloved AFC Bournemouth at the end of last season, but whilst some think he should wait for a Premier League vacancy, the Derby job may be the perfect one for him - and here's why.

According to the Daily Mail, Howe is on the shortlist of managerial candidates to take charge at Derby in the near future, along with the likes of Roberto Di Matteo and Nigel Adkins.

Exciting attacking talent

As seen in his Bournemouth sides over the years, Howe has a penchant for playing exciting attacking football.

He managed to get Josh King, Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and David Brooks in the same line-up and that brought lots of goals, and Derby have the likes of Martyn Waghorn, Tom Lawrence, Louie Sibley and of course Wayne Rooney who all have goals in their locker.

If Howe comes in and can get them all firing, Derby could have a scarily-good team on their hands.

Potential funds to spend

Sheikh Khaled - cousin of Man City owner Sheikh Mansour - is closing in on a huge takeover of Derby, and that could mean massive amounts of money could be invested to try and get the Rams back to the Premier League.

Of course money doesn't guarantee success, but it would make Howe's decision much easier to join if it's on the table, and it's not impossible for a team to be bottom of the league after 11 games to still be promoted - ask Roy Keane when he took over at Sunderland in 2006!

An emphasis on youth

Howe gave a number of talented young players chances at the highest level on the south coast, including the likes of Lewis Cook and David Brooks, and Derby have a wealth of similar talent at their disposal.

The aforementioned Sibley exploded into life when football returned back in June with a hat-trick against Millwall, and Howe could get the best out of him by making him the focal point in midfield.

The likes of Jason Knight, Morgan Whittaker and Lee Buchanan are also in and around the first team, and then there's Scottish striker Jack Stretton, who is scoring for fun in Premier League 2 for Derby's under-23's.