Who will replace Hughes at Ewood Park?

I'm sure everyone connected with Blackburn Rovers will be disappointed to lose Mark Hughes but I think it's more or a case of farewell than good riddance. After all, under Sparky they reached FA Cup and League Cup semi-finals, achieved a top six finish and took them into Europe twice. Not bad considering the relatively small budget he had to play with.

But who, if anyone, can build on the foundations laid down by the former Manchester United, Chelsea and Wales striker? Big Sam seems to be the front runner but there are a number of other names in the frame for the vacant position and I am going to assess their credentials for the job.

Sam Allardyce

Big Sam has been out of the game since January and would surely jump at a chance to return to Lancashire and the Premiership. Many believe that he wasn't given a chance at Newcastle and his achievements at Bolton Wanderers can not be overlooked. He took an unfashionable side from the Championship to the Premiership, improved the squad year on year and took them to cup finals and into Europe. His style of play may not be everyone's cup of tea but he gets results and he knows the club and the area exceptionally well.

Avram Grant

The former Chelsea manager can rest safe in the knowledge that he would never be treated as harshly by Blackburn as he was by Roman Abramovich, but does he want to be a manager again? There's no denying that he got results at Chelsea but was that down to him or the players? It would be a huge challenge for him at Ewood Park with a limited budget but one that he could possibly thrive on.

Steve McClaren

It's the name that strikes fear into all England fans but let's not be too hasty about  his managerial pedigree. He was with Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United during their Treble winning season and he won Middlesbrough's first ever trophy and took them to a European final. Like Big Sam, his style of play was rounded on by supporters but he got results. He knows the Premiership inside out and must be eager to return to the domestic game but would the players want to work for him?

Gary Johnson

The Bristol City boss came agonisingly close to guiding the Robins to the Premiership after just one season in the Championship and has a reputation for playing attractive winning football. He has done well at almost every club he's been at and would relish the opportunity to rub shoulders with those in the top flight. Bristol City would obviously want to do their utmost to keep him but eventually one of the Premier League clubs will come in for him. Could this be that time?

Paul Ince

While other top name players wait for a top club to give them a managerial chance Ince threw himself in at the deep end but has come up smelling of roses. The former Manchester United, Liverpool and England midfielder saved Macclesfield from the drop in his first crack at management and then guided MK Dons to the League Two title. He is hugely ambitious and would love to test himself against the best the Premiership has to offer but are Blackburn brave enough to make such a move?

Henning Berg

The former Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United defender spent 10 years in the Premiership and is currently doing a decent job as manager of FC Lyn Oslo in Norway. Would this be a step too far, too soon, though? He is the only player to have won two Premiership medals with two different clubs so he's had a great career, could Blackburn Rovers give him the chance to add medals to his name as a manager?

Mike Newell

Another former Blackburn Rovers player, Newell has been out of the game since falling out with the Luton Town chairman and for his outburst against bungs in football. Never one to keep his opinions to himself, you know exactly where you stand with the former Everton and Aberdeen striker. His record as a manager is fantastic, having achieved promotion with both Hartlepool and Luton Town, but they are miles away from life in the Premiership. His hunger for the game is immense and the players will thrive off that but there will be many pundits thinking that he has been out of the game for far too long to go straight in at a Premier League side.

Kenny Dalglish

King Kenny delivered the Premier League title in 1995 but hasn't been in management since a failed stint at Celtic. He will always be a legend to the Blackburn fans following that successful period but would he be prepared to step back into the hot seat after an eight-year hiatus? Some of the romantics would love to see him back in the dugout at Ewood Park but it would be a massive shock if he did.

Alan Shearer

Shearer won his only piece of silverware at Ewood Park and is currently waiting for the right opening to enter management. Could this be it? He would undoubtedly command the respect of the players and the fans, although somewhat bitter how he left the club in 1996, would love to have him back. However, he is a managerial novice and it could be a huge risk. If he's a failure they could blow everything that Hughes has accomplished. But if he's a success there's the risk that Mike Ashley might be on the blower the next time Newcastle seek a manager. Do Rovers fans want to be used as a stepping stone?

Blackburn Rovers are only one of four clubs to have won the Premier League and although their days of challenging for the title may be long gone they remain one of the better clubs in the league. They need a top manager to carry on Sparky's good work, but who is the right man for the job?

Blackburn fans - Who would you like to see replace Mark Hughes at Blackburn and why? Do you think he has made a huge mistake? And what areas of the squad do you think the new boss will need to strengthen before the season gets under way?