There is every chance that Steve Bruce could depart Villa Park this summer.

The 57-year-old managed to guide the Villans to the Championship Play-Off final, only to be undone by Fulham who secured a 1-0 win at Wembley to fire them to the Premier League.

Times at Villa Park are tough at the moment, with cash-flow problems threatening to affect the club considerably, with a number of first-team stars set to be sold to raise funds to keep the club afloat.

Bruce has already been subject of an approach from fellow Championship side Leeds United, who are a looking for a replacement for Paul Heckingbottom who was axed after a mediocre stint at Elland Road.

If Bruce does depart the Midlands outfit, Tony Xia will need a contingency plan and will have to identify managers he feels will take the club forward and out of this dark spell.

Click the gallery image above to see three perfect replacement managers....

Mick McCarthy is an experienced head that could help steady the ship at Villa Park.

Having had so much experience in the English Football League, he could be the perfect man to lead a resurgence out of the Championship.

Poaching Dean Smith from Brentford would be a fantastic move.

Smith is renowned for playing fluid, attacking football and if he can implement that at Villa Park, he'd be a hit with the Holte End.

Alex Neil would be a shrewd move.

The Preston North End manager has done a sensational job at Deepdale and deserves a chance to manage at a large club like Villa.