Dwight Yorke has thrown his hat into the ring for the Aston Villa job.
Villa legend Yorke, 43, says the post is very “appealing” after Tim Sherwood was sacked after just eight months in charge.
Former Everton boss David Moyes is the red-hot bookies’ favourite but remains in charge of Real Sociedad.
Ex-Sunderland boss Gus Poyet, who has been offered the AEK Athens job, is on the shortlist while Nigel Pearson could also be an option.
Yorke, who has managed Trinidad and Tobago, told beIN Sports: “I’ve got to say yes (I do fancy the job). It’s the kind of job in management that would be very appealing to me.
“I played for that football club for ten years and I know what is to be expected of Aston Villa, the players, the sort of level of performance.
“I‘ve been in football all my life and I’ve learnt outside of the game and been around fantastic managers and I’ve played for good managers and yes, that’s the kind of job I’d certainly be interested in.
“It’s a club that’s very close to my heart. I had ten wonderful years there. I had a fantastic relationship with the fans there as well. I know the club inside out.
“I feel that with my experience now in the game, having worked on the media side of things and worked alongside some good managers, working in the backroom staff as a manager as well, I feel that I’m ready now to take on that sort of challenge.”
Yorke expressed his regret that Sherwood had been axed after the disastrous run but says he paid a heavy price for results.
“No one wants to see a manager get sacked, clearly, and Tim being an ex-player himself, who’s gone into management, you want to see young managers do well,” said Yorke.
“Unfortunately for Tim it’s a results-business we’re in and even though he’s gone in there and done extremely well and got them to an FA Cup semi-final and all the good things he’s done for Villa.
“But then he brought in thirteen players at the beginning of the season, or someone else did.”
Villa legend Andy Gray, now a beIN Sports pundit, claimed the club is stuck in a “malaise.”
Gray added: “It’s sad for me to see [the club] in this predicament, not only the way it is in now but the way it’s been for about three years now.
“There’s been a malaise around the club that’s been very difficult to shake off. This season is going to be the worst season for this.
“I think more chairmen will pull the trigger this season than any other season because of what’s at stake, because the new TV deal kicks in next season, because they need to be in the Premier League next season and I think if it hadn’t have been, Tim might have got a bit more time. Every owner is getting twitchy.
“Every owner that’s down there (at the bottom of the Premier League) and needs to stay in will get twitchy and it will take a really brave chairman or owner, when a team is down there.
“I’m telling you Newcastle will be the same, Sunderland will be the same, even Steven McClaren, if Newcastle are still in the bottom three going into January then would it surprise me if Steve McClaren went?
“It wouldn’t because clubs like that need to stay in the league so I’m not surprised because we’ve all been in the game long enough to not be surprised by anything.
“I’m disappointed for Tim because I like Tim. He’s a British manager and it doesn’t do British managers’ reputations any good every time one fails or is perceived to have failed so I’m a little sad in that but I think when Randy Lerner came to town yesterday before the game, I said if they don’t win he’s there for a reason.”
Yorke also claimed that he has matured despite his party boy image and believes Sir Alex Ferguson, his boss at Manchester United, could help him.
Yorke added: “You just have to look at my CV as a player. You don’t play for the best football club in the world and achieve what I’ve achieved in the game if I wasn’t dedicated to it.
“Yes, I have made some bad decisions in my life but it doesn’t mean that I’m a bad person. I’m a football person through and through.
“I know the game inside out and I’ve got the experience now and feel I’m at the right age and all those things that have been said about me is in the past now. I‘m a new person now as well.
“I’m sure and I have a fantastic relationship [with him]. As I’m sure everyone knows, I still work for the club and my relationship with Sir Alex is one that I’m very proud of and someone I can always pick up the phone and speak to at any given time.”