Former Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce has had talks with Aston Villa and he remains favourite to fill their managerial vacancy.
Villa sacked Roberto di Matteo on Monday, with the club 19th in the Championship and winless in nine games.
Bruce, 55, has been without a club since leaving Hull City, but was interviewed by the Football Association for the England job in July.
He has won promotion to the top flight four times in his managerial career.
Di Matteo's assistant Steve Clarke remains in caretaker charge at Villa, whose next match sees them host Wolverhampton Wanderers on 15 October.