Sam Allardyce has repeatedly been liked with a departure from West Ham United at the end of the current Premier League season, having barely kept hold of his job last summer.
The manager was summoned to a meeting with the club's board but remained in charge at Upton Park after being instructed to play more attacking football, resulting in the appointment of Teddy Sheringham as an attacking coach.
It looked like it had been a success in the first half of the season as the Hammers were challenging for a spot in Europe, but they have been unable to maintain their momentum, dropping down to 10th in the table with just one win in their last 11 outings.
With various names being linked with the seemingly imminent vacancy, Sports Mole takes a look at some of the candidates.
1. David Moyes
The Real Sociedad boss is the latest name to be linked with the job, just over a year after his dismissal from Manchester United.
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The Scot took charge of the La Liga club in November with the team sitting just outside the relegation zone, and he has turned their season around to lift them up to 12th with a top-half finish still a possibility.
David Moyes has insisted that he plans to return to the Premier League in the future, while the West Ham board are thought to be keen on a manager with experience in the English top flight. However, the 51-year-old recently ruled out an imminent return, so would likely need some persuasion.
2. Harry Redknapp
When Harry Redknapp resigned from Queens Park Rangers earlier this year, he initially cited the need to undergo knee surgery for taking a step back, but he has since confirmed that he would consider a return to football management.
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The former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth boss certainly has history with the club, having played for the team in the 1960s and later managing the side from 1994 until 2001.
The 68-year-old is currently among the favourites with the bookmakers to replace Allardyce, having recently admitted in a TV interview that he would be interested in a return to the club, although he also backed the current boss.
3. Rafael Benitez
The former Liverpool manager is expected to be available in the summer as he comes to the end of his current contract with Italian side Napoli.
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The Spaniard has also been linked with Manchester City should Manuel Pellegrini be fired at the end of the campaign, but West Ham have shown more patience with managers in recent years than the current Premier League champions. With the prospect of a move to the Olympic Stadium next year, it could be a attractive opportunity for Benitez to put his stamp on a side.
The London side will surely be interested in Benitez's record in cup competitions, having won the Champions League and FA Cup during his time with Liverpool while guiding Chelsea to the Europa League during his interim spell at Stamford Bridge.
4. Slaven Bilic
Perhaps one of the more surprising names being linked with the job is former Croatia boss Slaven Bilic, who is currently in charge of Turkish side Besiktas.
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The 46-year-old has never managed in England but does know the club well, having spent a season at Upton Park during his playing career before spending a further three seasons in the Premier League with Everton.
The club's owners would surely rather appoint a coach with Premier League experience, but if they cannot attract the likes of Moyes and Benitez, Bilic could be an interesting prospect, having guided Croatia to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008, but he does still have a year remaining on his lucrative deal with Besiktas, so he could be costly.
5. Teddy Sheringham
When Teddy Sheringham was appointed as the club's attacking coach last summer, many speculated that the former England international was being lined up to replace Allardyce.
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The 49-year-old has certainly had an impact on the club's forwards, as they have already scored more goals with six matches remaining than they managed throughout the entirety of last season, although the signings of Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia in the summer will have also helped.
Sheringham has made no secret of his desire to move into management in the future, although he has been full of praise for Allardyce throughout the season. Having scored 28 goals in 76 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2007, he would surely be a popular appointment with the club's supporters.
