Former England international Danny Mills has tipped Nigel Pearson as a possible successor to under fire Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren.
The Magpies went down to a 3-1 home defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday, a result which leaves the club second bottom in the Premier League and at real risk of dropping into the Championship.
Newcastle fans chanted for McClaren to be sacked after the final whistle and the jury is out on whether the former Derby County boss will keep his job.
For Mills, if Newcastle do decide to part ways with McClaren, former Leicester manager Pearson could be the ideal appointment with ten league games to go.
"If there is going to be a change in manager, who is it? You need an abrasive character with a bit of fight and with spirit", Mills said on the BBC's Final Score programme.
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"Nigel Pearson – been there before, been caretaker, knows the football club.
"Who else would go in there for just nine games? Give him nine games, big bonus if he stays up. Job done", Mills added.
Pearson has been out of work since parting ways with Leicester last summer; Newcastle's next game is a visit to the King Power Stadium to lock horns with Leicester, who currently sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
