Ipswich Town have narrowed down their manager wishlist to just two names, according to reports.
The Daily Record is reporting that St Mirren manager Jack Ross and Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst are the two men wanted by Ipswich to replace Mick McCarthy at Portman Road.
Hurst has gained plenty of admirers this season after leading Shrewsbury Town to a third place finish in League One after steering them to safety last season, having come to the club when they were bottom.
The Shrews fell narrowly short of automatic promotion and they will now face Rotherham United - the club where Hurst spent most of his playing career - in the play-off final at Wembley for a place in next season's Championship.
The 43-year-old has the highest coaching qualification of a UEFA A badge and is regarded as one of the best young managers in the English game.
Ross is another young managerial candidate for Ipswich to run the rule over.
The 41-year-old has just guided St Mirren to the Scottish Championship title and a return to the top flight in Scotland, as well as winning the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year accolade.
Formerly of Alloa Athletic, Ross has been given permission by St Mirren to talk to Ipswich and now he is set to hold a second round of talks with the Tractor Boys.
The Verdict
Ipswich's chances of landing Hurst hinge on whether Shrewsbury win promotion this year, I believe.
But he has worked miracles at Shrewsbury and has them on the verge of something special that they would never have believed when he joined the bottom-placed League One club in October 2016.
Both Hurst and Ross would be exciting options for Ipswich to pursue and completely different styles to McCarthy, which will please fans who grew tired of tedious tactics and mid-table finishes.
Although both these managers represent risks, they both have the potential to finally push Ipswich back to the Premier League if they can implement their style of play at Portman Road and get the players on their side.
Ipswich fans - Who would you like as your next boss? Let us know below...