Nigel Adkins in the mix to take charge of former club Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic are believed to be keen to make a quick managerial appointment as they bid to boost their slim survival hopes. According to Wigan Today the Latics want to name a new boss in time for Friday's crunch Championship clash away to relegation rivals Fulham.

Wigan ditched Malky Mackay on Monday, shortly after they slumped to their 22nd league defeat of what has been a shocking season. The 2-0 home defeat to Derby left the Greater Manchester club eight points from safety with only five matches remaining. The Scot departed the DW Stadium with a dismal record of 19 points from 24 matches, while he will need no reminding that he failed to win a single game on home soil.

• Wigan are searching for their 4th permanent manager since Roberto Martinez.
• Bizarrely two of the club's last three managers have been sacked after defeats to Derby, while Uwe Rosler's last win was against the Rams.

Immediately after the news broke that Mackay, who lasted just 138 days, had been axed, Wigan's search got underway for a fourth permanent manager since Roberto Martinez's exit in the summer of 2013. Former Latics goalkeeper Nigel Adkins has been installed as the joint 3/1 favourite (Bet Victor) in the Next Wigan Manager Market.

The 50-year-old, who led Southampton to back-to-back promotions up to the Premier League, has been in the Job Centre since leaving Reading in December, but is now right in the frame to make a sensational return to the DW Stadium.

Alongside Adkins in the betting is Latics coach Gary Caldwell, who has also been handed odds of 3/1 at this early stage in proceedings. Also in the running is veteran boss Neil Warnock (5/1), followed by the ex Latics gaffer Paul Jewell (8/1), while the Everton assistant manager Graeme Jones (20/1) is also believed to be under consideration.