Paul Heckingbottom 'set for return to management' as former Hibs boss is linked with English League One club

Paul Heckingbottom is in the running for the Bristol Rovers job

Paul Heckingbottom could be set for a return to management, with the foremr HIbs head coach linked with the vacant post at Bristol Rovers.

The English League One side lost manager Graham Coughlan to Mansfield Town, and are now looking for his replacement.

Heckingbottom had been mentioned along with former Blackpool and QPR boss Ian Holloway and Forest Green Rovers manager Mark Cooper, but Holloway ruled himself out of the running and if the Pirates went after Cooper, they would have to pay a compensation fee of more than £100,000.

The Bristol Post claims Rovers are keen on bringing in a manager with experience of managing in League One, experience of winning promotion, bold ideas about the direction of the team and who is ideally a free agent.

Heckingbottom won promotion to the English Championship from League One with Barnsley, but according to the latest bookies odds, is only fifth in the running (6/1 odds). However, Cooper (2/1 fav) and Holloway (7/2 third fav) are both mentioned ahead of the former Easter Road man.

Under-21 boss Chris Hargreaves is second favourite (3-1) while Bristol's head of recruitment Tommy Widdrington is priced at 5/1, although he is understood to be happy in his current role.