With Notts County sitting 22nd in the League Two table, and after a 4-0 defeat at Cambridge United on Saturday afternoon which marked their 9th successive defeat in the league, it was inevitably time for John Sheridan to depart Meadow Lane.

But for many Notts fans, the boss's departure is something that Magpies fans have become accustomed to over the past few years, as the club now find themselves looking for their 11th manager in 6 years; a staggering amount for any team in the Football League.

For a team that looked odds on for promotion at the beginning of the campaign, especially with the calibre of the new signings and the new manager, one of the league's sleeping giants are currently staring relegation right in the face, which just isn't good enough for Notts County.

A new era is dawning on Meadow Lane with local businessman Alan Hardy taking over the club from controversial owner Ray Trew, and this January transfer window is pivotal in determining the world's oldest Football League club's position in the Football League at the end of the season.

Midfielder Alan Smith has taken charge on a temporary basis for the time being, but here, we take a look at THREE potential replacements for John Sheridan at Notts County...

David Flitcroft

Straight off the bat is former Barnsley and Bury manager David Flitcroft, who has already reportedly said that he is interested in the vacant job.

The 42-year-old boss, who made 500 career appearances as a player, led Bury to automatic promotion from League Two in the 2014/15 campaign.

Aside from this, he steered Barnsley away from the relegation zone in the Championship the season before, and both of his Barnsley and Bury sides played nice, attractive football, which is something that Notts' fans are craving at the minute, rather than just hoof-ball.

Justin Edinburgh

The former Tottenham Hotspur player was recently relieved of his duties as Gillingham manager, with the club sitting in a disappointing 17th place in League One.

Apart from this though, Edinburgh did a sterling job at Priestfield, and has set them up for a real push for promotion from League One in the near future.

The 2015/16 campaign was his first full season in charge of the Gills, and he led them to second place position at Christmas, and if it wasn't for a bad run of injuries to crucial players, the Kent side may have finished a lot higher than their disappointing 9th position at the end of the campaign.

Whether the 47-year-old would want to jump back into a job straight away remains to be seen, however, I believe that Edinburgh would be a shrewd appointment for Notts.

Gary Caldwell

The former Wigan Athletic manager has been without a job for just less than 3 months now, since being removed from his position at the DW Stadium in October.

The former Latics defender led the club to promotion from League One last term, in what was his first and only managerial stint so far in his career.

After achieving success in his first year of management, Caldwell will no doubt be looking to expand his abilities as a manager and gain more experience and success, and what better place to do so than at Meadow Lane under new ownership.

Notts have been shipping too many goals of late, and a centre half by trade as manager would also play a huge part in bolstering their defence.

 

So...what do you think Notts fans? Who do you want to see as your next manager? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!