Swansea City: Will Bergkamp be their next manager?

Swansea City are still searching to find the right man to replace Brendan Rodgers in the dugout at the Liberty Stadium but could they really be about to appoint former Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp?

The Swans have a few irons in the fire including Michael Laudrup, Graeme Jones, Ian Holloway and Gus Poyet. All of the aforementioned names love to play swift attacking football which would please the Swansea fans, but who is the right man for the job?

Squarefootball's Colin Illingworth has a look at the options available to the Swansea board and assesses the chances of the main runners and riders landing the job.

Dennis Bergkamp

The Non-Flying Dutchman is one of the most technically gifted players ever to have graced the Premier League. Whether it was a pass with the outside of his boot, a dip of the shoulder or a perfectly placed finish, whatever the former Arsenal legend tried it oozed class.

Schooled at the famous Ajax youth system, Bergkamp burst on to the scene in 1986 scoring 106 goals in 185 appearances for the Dutch giants. He joined Inter Milan in 1993 but the move turned into a nightmare for him. Arsenal came to his rescue two years later and the Dutchman lit up the Premier League for the next 11 years.

Currently Ronald De Boer's assistant at Ajax, Bergkamp may be ready to take his first steps into becoming a manager in his own right. Swansea and Bergkamp share the same philosophy and he would be able to attract some of the hottest names in the game to Wales. But can Swansea convince him to take on the challenge?

Michael Laudrup

The Great Dane is one of only a few players to have pulled on a Barcelona and Real Madrid shirt and is currently the front runner for the vacant Swansea post. Laudrup, like Bergkamp, was a class act on the pitch and would suit Swansea's style down to the ground.

He started his managerial career in his home country with Brondby and enjoyed great success there, winning the league once, the Danish Cup twice and the Super Cup three times. He then moved to Getafefor a season before being sacked by Spartak Moscow after just 14 games. His last spell in management was at struggling Malaga, who he kept in La Liga, before tendering his resignation.

Appointing Laudrup would be a huge statement of intent for the Swans.

Ian Holloway

The Blackpool manager is a loveable character and manages to get the very best out of average players. He led the Tangerines to the Premier League two years ago and missed out on an automatic return in the play-offs last month at Wembley, but could he be set for a return to the Promised Land with Swansea?

Holloway's attacking style has won an army of admirers but people should not forget that he was the man responsible for leading Leicester City into League One.

Swansea have a good crop of players at the club and have won plaudits for their style, but they are at risk of suffering the second season syndrome. Does Holloway have what it takes to guide the Swans on to the next level?

Gus Poyet

The former Chelsea and Spurs midfielder has been linked with a move to the Premier League before but could it be a step too far too soon in his development? There's no denying that he can get his players motivated and in shape for each game, but there's a huge difference in playing Bristol City and Manchester City. Is he tactically astute enough to outsmart the likes of Mancini, Fergie and Wenger?

There's no doubt that Poyet will get a crack at the top flight soon, but I think he would rather achieve that goal with the Seagulls.

Graeme Jones

Last week it appeared that he had turned down the chance to return to Swansea but he is now back in at second favourite for the job. Jones, 42, was Roberto Martinez's assistant at Swansea and obviously knows what the club and the fans crave. The former striker never really hit the big time in the game but his reputation as a coach is growing with each passing season.

Jones and Martinez have formed a great double act and it would be a wrench to leave the Spaniard and emerge from his shadows but if he has any ambitions of being a manager then this would be a great place to start.

Other names in the frame include Marcel Desailly, Karl Robinson, Gianfranco Zola and Burnley's Eddie Howe, but Swansea fans can relax knowing that Steve Bruce has accepted an offer to become the new Hull boss!

Calling all Swansea City fans: The Swans board have had more than a week to consider their options, but who would you love to see in the Swansea dugout? Whatever your views we'd love to hear from you.