NEARLY a quarter of the clubs in League Two currently have “situation vacant” signs hung outside the manager’s office.

Grimsby’s decision to sack Paul Hurst – someone who has previously coveted the City job – means that five of the 24 fourth-tier teams are under temporary/interim/caretaker charge for now.

Four bosses have gone since the Bantams pulled the plug on Mark Hughes 26 days ago; his departure causing a domino effect among those around them.

Neil Harris followed from Gillingham the following day, MK Dons then sacked Graham Alexander and Colchester removed Ben Garner before Hurst was shown the door at Blundell Park on Saturday night, ending his 1,032-day Mariners reign.

Milton Keynes, as we know, made a speedy announcement to unveil Mike Williamson as Alexander’s successor. Nobody needs reminding how well his home debut went last week.

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City and the other three clubs, as well as Tranmere where technical director Nigel Adkins continues to run the show, are still to reveal their full-time choices.

While Gillingham owner Brad Galinson has issued another update this morning to promise an announcement in the next couple of days, the decision-makers at Valley Parade have kept their own counsel to leave fans fretting for some hint of action.

All indications suggest the frustrating wait will be over very soon. It would be very surprising if tomorrow’s low-key EFL Trophy game against Manchester City’s under-21s is not City’s last with a caretaker gaffer at the helm.

So, who do you expect to see installed in time for an FA Cup bow against Wycombe this weekend?

Nobody at all saw Hughes coming when he was unveiled in February 2022 to replace Derek Adams. Appointments don’t get more left field than that.

With very little leaking out from the interview process, maybe it could be another name that has gone completely under the radar that is lined up this time?

If that’s not the case, then the list drawn up by the bookies offers the most likely clues.

Dean Holden’s name appeared as a likely contender in the T&A the day after Hughes was gone.

Holden is keen for a quick return to management after being axed by Charlton at the end of August following a slow start to the season.

He is understood to be interested in the vacancies at City and Gillingham – and has been touted in some reports as a strong contender. But is that really the case?

Would the appointment of a manager who was gone after just eight months at the Valley following a run of five straight defeats sit well with a Valley Parade fanbase desperate for a big character to reignite their own muddling campaign?

Danny Cowley definitely has the promotion credentials to back up his claim for the City position having steered Lincoln from the National League to League One during an incredible run.

That earned him a big move to West Yorkshire with Huddersfield where he secured their Championship status after a difficult season.

Cowley most recently spent 21 months with Portsmouth where he enjoyed a 42 per cent winning record in all competitions.

He was sacked after losing at home to Holden’s Charlton on New Year’s Day – with a run of just one win in his final 14 games - and is hungry to bring his and brother Nicky’s animated style back onto the touchline after 10 months out.

“We love football and we miss football every day,” Cowley said in a recent interview.

“It’s the first thing we think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I go to bed.”

Despite the way it ended at League One Pompey, he would appear the type of character that would embrace the challenge of leading the biggest club in the division.

Or could City be preparing to give someone their first break in management?

Stephen Clemence is reportedly hoping to get that with Gillingham after a lengthy spell as number two to Steve Bruce at various clubs.

Other former assistants are sure to be looking to branch out on their own with one of the jobs currently available.

But the goldfish bowl of Valley Parade and pressure that a new boss will face from minute one hardly presents the gentlest of introductions.

What of Kevin McDonald himself? Having had a taste of managerial ups and downs in the past few weeks, will the big Scot be willing to pick up the gauntlet for good?

McDonald has played down the questions so far apart from making it clear that coaching and being a manager is something he sees himself doing once his playing boots are hung up.

But opportunities like this don’t come around often. Being in the right place at the right time threw up an unexpected chance – will it be easy just to walk away and go back to being another face in the dressing room?

He is clearly growing into a role that is a lot more than just swapping one colour of club tracksuit for another. Will relinquishing that responsibility be such a simple choice?

So many questions and the answers can’t come quick enough.