By David Lee Wheatley
Who's in line for Goodison post?
With the end of season departure of David Moyes imminent, I look at who might be in the frame to replace him at Everton.
Neil Lennon (Celtic manager)
The fiery Northern Irishman presided over a Scottish Premier League title win and a fine run to the last-16 of the Champions League this season. Does he have the requisite experience for the post after only a relatively short time at the helm at Celtic Park? A recent run of bets has placed him as the bookies' favourite.
Roberto Martinez (Wigan manager)
A man who likes his teams to play open, attacking football, as he's shown at Wigan and Swansea before that. He's helped keep Wigan in the top-flight with last-gasp survival bids in the past and needs a minor miracle to keep them in the Premier League this campaign. However, that hasn't affected his status as one of the most highly-rated managers in the British game. He has led Wigan to this Saturday's FA Cup final and therefore they'll be in the Europa League next season, come what may.
Michael Laudrup (Swansea manager)
The Great Dane led Swansea to the Capital One Cup trophy in February and will be keen to take City into Europe next time around. Looking good for a top-half finish in the league, the Swans have confounded the doubters and Laudrup has been credited with having much to do with the steady rise of the Welsh club. The former Brondby boss has significant experience in Spain and Russia as a manager, but may feel the timing isn't right for a move at the moment.
Steve Clarke (West Brom manager)
Long-time assistant coach Clarke stepped up to the top job at The Hawthorns last summer and made an immediate impact with his personable approach to the media and tactical nous with his team putting Clarke amongst the most sought-after young managers in the English game. Formerly coach at Liverpool, Clarke would undoubtedly jump at the chance of a return to Merseyside with the Toffees.
Malky Mackay (Cardiff manager)
Having steadied an uneasy ship at Watford, the big Scot stepped on to south Wales, putting together a tidy squad that reached promotion as Championship winners this season. His ability to finally take Cardiff up, after many failed attempts under previous managers, won't have gone unnoticed in the corridors of power at several big clubs across Britain. If approached, it'd be interesting to see if Mackay would prefer to lead Cardiff in their first tilt at the Premier League or take on the challenge at Goodison Park.
Martin O'Neill (unattached)
Without doubt, O'Neill's 15-month stint at Sunderland has put a black mark on his CV. The dour football produced this season up to his sacking was awful to watch and had some questioning if the dog has had his day. However, his record at Wycombe, Leicester, Celtic and Villa stands up against the best around and it wasn't too long ago that O'Neill was being linked with the top jobs across the country. If Everton want an experienced hand and should they feel he still has the motivation to succeed, then the genial Northern Irishman could get the nod.
My verdict: Roberto Martinez
Twitter: @davewh1980
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