Nigel Pearson and Alan Pardew head West Bromwich Albion's shortlist to replace the sacked Tony Pulis, sources have told ESPN FC, with the club determined to hire a manager with a proven record of staving off relegation.
Pulis, who has never been relegated from the Premier League, was sacked on Monday after fans turned on the Welshman during Saturday's 4-0 defeat against Chelsea at The Hawthorns.
With a combination of poor results and supporter unrest, the club's owners chose to dismiss Pulis in an effort to kick-start their season under a new manager capable of lifting the mood in the dressing room and in the stands.
Pearson, who oversaw Leicester's so-called "great escape" from relegation in 2014-15, is the leading candidate, with sources telling ESPN FC that he could be hired alongside Craig Shakespeare, his former assistant at Leicester, who was sacked by the Foxes last month.
But Pardew also has support within the Albion hierarchy after proving his top-flight credentials with West Ham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace.
Sam Allardyce is another contender, but the former England manager has made it clear that he will only return to work for a job that offers him the opportunity to challenge at the top end of the table.