Phillip Cocu's life as Derby County manager might not have long left before expiry with speculation rife that he is going to be replaced, amid further talk that a takeover of the club is near completion.

Certainly, it's looking like a rather hectic period for the Rams and, if Cocu does go, they'll obviously be eager to get in a manager quickly that can change their fortunes around this season and get them up the table.

According to the Daily Mail, John Terry is in the frame for the job, with the former Chelsea captain currently at Aston Villa as a member of Dean Smith's coaching staff.

The former England defender has been with Villa for a few years now, finishing his career there as a player before moving into the set-up alongside Dean Smith.

In that time, they've earned promotion to the Premier League and stayed there, whilst this season they are enjoying good form, beating Arsenal 3-0 last time out at the Emirates.

Smith admits, though, that one day Terry will become a manager in his own right and has said that he will not stand in his way, should a job offer come in for him.

That, then, might be encouragement for the Rams and hopes that they'd be able to appoint him, if they do decide to pull the trigger on Dutchman Cocu.

Terry, with obvious links to Chelsea and Frank Lampard, could well be able to bring good loans into Derby - as the former midfielder did when he was at Pride Park.

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