It was a rags to riches story as unexpected as Leicester's rise from nowhere to become Premier League champions.

Lower-league stalwart Craig Shakespeare - a legend at both Walsall and West Brom - stepped into the Foxes hotseat last season and impressively guided them away from relegation.

But with trigger-happy owners he was never going to last long - and today he was dropped as unceremoniously as the Foxes have slid down the league since they took the title.

With the side moored in the bottom three after a 1-1 draw with West Brom, there's another search for a man to build on Claudio Raneiri's shock title win.

The love affair is over for Craig Shakespeare (
Image:
Getty Images)

The bookies can't name a favourite - it's Chris Coleman, Sam Allardyce and even Alan Pardew depending on who you flutter with - but one thing is for sure, it's an attractive opportunity.

In the bottom three, what Leicester need is a good bit of British grit to get them out.

Or some even suave Italian swagger...

Sam Allardyce

Sam Allardyce could well be tempted (
Image:
PA)

The former England boss said never again after a short stint saving Crystal Palace, but as we all know with Allardyce, he just can't say no.

The major overhaul needed at Palace was one thing, but Leicester is different.

The former champions have a good financial base, and a great spine of a team with Kasper Schmeichel, Harry Maguire, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy.

The financial package will be good - and we all know he likes that - so as last tilt a Premier League club goes, it looks attractive.

He's also got the profile Leicester are looking for - and it looks a perfect fit.

Odds: Sky Bet 7/4 (fav), Boyle Sport 9/1, Coral 5/1 (fav)

Chris Coleman

Chris Coleman would be attracted by the job (
Image:
Getty)

The Wales boss said he wasn't going to sign a new deal after the latest qualification campaign.

But he thought he'd go out on a high with Wales in Russia. The fact that Gareth Bale-plus-10 didn't make it - when they were top seeded in the group - was a blow to the former Fulham boss.

And so there was rumblings of Coleman staying.

But not if a Premier League job came calling - and this is the sort of role Coleman would love to re-cut his Premier League teeth with.

He's rebuilt his career after some dodgy club stints but probably should have left Wales after they reached the Euro semis.

He didn't - and the Foxes will still see Coleman a gamble.

Odds: Sky Bet 5/2, Boyle Sport 5/1 (fav), 6/1 Coral

Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini in his Leicester playing days (
Image:
PA)

Currently boosting his pension at Zenit Saint Petersburg, Mancini has always felt he has unfinished business in the Premier League.

And surprisingly the Italian superstar is a former Filbert Street favourite.

The former Sampdoria number 10 played four games for the Foxes (no goals) in 2001 after leaving Lazio.

While he didn't set the Prem on fire, he made a massive impression when he became Manchester City boss.

He's used to winning with 25 trophies in his career - 13 as a player, 12 as a manager - and the owners will like that mentality.

He's the biggest profile name on this list - and the only man capable of getting the likes of Mahrez to actually think his future could be at the King Power Stadium.

Odds: Sky Bet 10/1, Boyle Sport 12/1, 10/1 Coral

Alan Pardew

Alan Pardew is currently out of work (
Image:
REUTERS)

A low-rent Tony Pulis, Pardew is the man for a Premier League crisis.

Last time he was called in to save Crystal Palace from the drop, which he did with aplomb until the the turn of 2016.

Then he only won six games out 36 in that calendar year.

He'll come with a wealth of experience across mid-sized clubs in the Premier League and can unearth some real bargains in the transfer market.

But he's never the boss to get fans' pulses running.

As a quick-fix Pardew can't be beaten, but Leicester will probably feel they're not in that position with so much of the campaign still to go - yet.

Odds: Sky Bet 12/1, Boyle Sport 9/1, BetStars 17/2

David Moyes

David Moyes would say he's been unlucky (
Image:
AFP)

His stock is on a downward spiral, but David Moyes still has his admirers in the top league because he can make the most of a limited budget.

While his last three jobs - Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland weren't right the fit for massively different reasons.

The latter especially so, as he couldn't turn around a team used to losing.

But Moyes will say he's been unlucky and has learnt from all those knock backs and is ready for a go a club where he has something to work with.

A detailed coach, Moyes can make a team better on a training pitch.

And if he's paired with someone who knows what they're doing in the transfer market, he could turn out to be a masterstroke.

Odds: Boyle Sport 6/1, BetStars 10/1

Best of the rest

Michael Appleton (7-1): Foxes' fans won't want another promotion for an assistant boss, whatever he did at, er, Oxford

Nigel Pearson: They'll be no return former boss who left under a cloud 8/1

Carlo Ancelotti: Out of work, but will be holding out for better things 8/1

Gary Rowett: Former player, but still has a job to do at Derby 16/1

Juegen Klinsmann: Leftfield, but is the sort of profile the owners would go for 20/1