Mark Warburton, Nigel Adkins, and Phil Parkinson early contenders to replace Nigel Clough at Sheffield United

Mark Warburton, Nigel Adkins, and Phil Parkinson have been installed as the early frontrunners in the race to replace the sacked Nigel Clough at Sheffield United. Clough was booted out of the Bramall Lane exit door on Monday, following the club's play-off failure last term, with Blades chairman Kevin McCabe keen for a change in direction.

There will be no shortage of interest in the vacancy from managers both in and out of work. Sheff Utd are a huge club who are desperate to return to the second-tier of English football, having been stuck in League One since 2010. In three of those seasons they have frustratingly flunked in the play-offs, much to the despair of the supporters.

Nigel Clough's performance at Sheffield United #SUFC pic.twitter.com/bMwlB8Hi5E

- The Sack Race (@thesackrace) May 25, 2015

At this early stage in proceedings the Next Sheff Utd Manager market is unsurprisingly very competitive, with the likes of Warburton, Adkins, and Parkinson featuring prominently towards the summit, while Steve Evans and Karl Robinson simply can't be ruled out.

It's Warburton who currently leads the way at 5/4 with Sky Bet. The 52-year-old, who will undoubtedly be no short of offers for an instant return to the dugout, enjoyed an impressive 2014/15 campaign at Brentford, leading them into the play-offs in their first season back in the Championship. However, a difference in opinion with the hierarchy on the club's management structure, means he is now in demand following Brentford's play-off exit.

Adkins, 5/2, is a viable option considering that he has valuable experience at this level with Southampton, whom he roared to back-to-back promotions from League One up to the Premier League. The Blades are desperate to end their third-tier play-off hoodoo, and return to the Championship, and Adkins' endless positivity and optimistic nature could be just the antidote the club needs.

Meanwhile, Parkinson (7/2)has a year left on his contract at Bradford, but if the Blades came calling he may be tempted by a move away from the League One outfit. The 47-year-old has previously managed the likes of Charlton, Hull and Colchester, winning promotion with both the latter, and current club Bradford, who enjoyed play-off success in 2013, while they also reached the League Cup final in the same season.