Stoke are hopeful of appointing a new manager this week after the dismissal of Mark Hughes, with Derby’s Gary Rowett emerging as a serious contender for the Premier League strugglers.

Rowett and Martin O’Neill, the Republic of Ireland manager, are both understood to be high on Stoke’s list of potential targets as they search for only their third manager since 2006.

Hughes was sacked on Saturday night, barely three hours after the abysmal 2-1 defeat at League Two club Coventry, with the Stoke board reluctantly bringing the Welshman’s four-and-a-half year reign to an end.

Stoke were intent on giving Hughes until the end of the season before reviewing his position in the summer but eight defeats in 11 games forced them into taking action. He was given the news by chief executive Tony Scholes and is said to have accepted the decision with dignity.

Peter Coates, the chairman, and his son John, the vice-chairman, plus Scholes will lead the search for a successor and Rowett is thought to be a leading contender.