Peterborough United parted company with boss Graham Westley at the weekend after a miserable run of form, which had seen the team drop out of contention for the League One play-offs.

A 2-0 defeat at the hands of Scunthorpe United put an end to Westley’s tenure and left chairman Darragh MacAnthony searching for yet another manager.

The Posh have a glowing reputation within the Football League for taking players from the non-league circuit and polishing them into profitable talents, some of which have gone onto play in the Premier League and Championship in recent years.

The club must ensure that the next managerial appointment is the right one, with Championship football firmly at the top of the agenda for the club’s hierarchy.

Football League World writer Lee Clarke takes a look at FIVE possible appointments for Peterborough United to consider, as they begin the search for a new gaffer.....

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE MANAGERIAL OPTIONS!

London Road Stadium

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Steve Cotterill

Steve Cotterill

If Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony wants to employ a manager who has been there and done it in the third tier, then he should look no further than Steve Cotterill.

The ex-Bristol City manager won the league and Football League Trophy double with the Robins last season, but was sacked after a difficult start to life in the Sky Bet Championship.

Cotterill is a proven manager in Sky Bet League One and League Two and it would seem likely that his next role will be in one of those two divisions.

The 51-year-0ld is unlikely to be out of work for long and he would leave no stone unturned, in his quest to ensure that Posh are a second tier club at the start of the 2017/18 campaign.

Sean O’Driscoll

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It has been a whirlwind sort of a season for the ex-Doncaster Rovers manager having spent time at two different clubs.

Ex-Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers announced the coach as one of his assistant managers at the start of the season but his sacking in October meant that O’Driscoll would depart too.

In December he took the Walsall job but was given his marching orders after just three months in the role – something which could hamper his chances of the Peterborough United vacancy.

He does however have a proven track record of playing an attractive brand of attacking football, something which could help him get the gig at London Road.

Billy Davies

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The fiery Scotsman has been out of work since leaving Nottingham Forest in 2014, following an ill-fated second spell in charge of the Reds.

During his first spell in charge of Forest he oversaw a run to two consecutive play-off semi-finals before having his contract terminated by the club.

The football that Forest played under Davies was irresistible at times and it is a crying shame that the team he assembled never got the chance to grace the Premier League.

The big stumbling block to Davies making the switch to London Road would be the question of whether or not MacAnthony and chief executive Barry Fry feel they could work with the ex-Derby County boss, given his stubborn style of management.

Neil Redfearn

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The former Leeds United boss was hard done by during his time at Elland Road and after steadying the ship during a time of crisis, he was brutally brushed aside by controversial owner Massimo Cellino.

He then went on to Rotherham United, where he tarnished his reputation somewhat by failing to achieve the kind of results that such a squad should merit. He was inevitably sacked with the club stranded in the bottom of three of the Championship.

His time at the Millers shouldn’t deter future employers from taking a chance on a man who is a good coach and a well respected figure in the lower leagues of English football.

Karl Robinson

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What a coup this would be for Peterborough United if they could tempt Robinson into a new challenge.

A question must be raised over the Liverpool-born manager’s desire to attempt to take the MK Dons back into the Championship following Saturday’s relegation.

Robinson worked tirelessly to take the Dons up in the first place and I ask the question whether he doubts in his own mind, whether he has taken the club as far as he possible can now.

Should the up-and-coming boss choose to walk away from Stadium MK, he will have lots of possible projects to choose from such is his reputation and Peterborough United would be an interesting challenge to say the least.