Who could replace McLaughlin at Glenavon?

Could Dean Shiels, Oran Kearney, Barry Gray or Gary Hamilton be in the frame to replace Paddy McLaughlin at Glenavon?

Glenavon confirmed Paddy McLaughlin's departure from the club on Sunday night after their poor start to the season.

The Lurgan Blues are rooted to the foot of the table after nine straight league defeats to start the season.

They are already nine points adrift of the likes of Portadown and Bangor above them, with the Mourneview Park outfit seemingly aiming to act decisively now in the hope a 'new manager bounce' can stave off the threat of relegation.

That, after all, is what happened when McLaughlin replaced Stephen McDonnell in November 2024 as, while they were 11th when he took over, a good run helped them to pull away from the relegation fight and finish in 10th, 14 points ahead of Carrick Rangers directly below them.

The big question now is who will be tasked with getting Glenavon out of their precarious position? The club have invited expressions of interest in the position from "persons holding or working towards the requisite IFA licensing qualifications" before Monday, 6 October.

BBC Sport NI looks at some of the contenders to replace the former Cliftonville and Institute boss.

Dean Shiels

Dean Shiels left Coleraine in May of this year

Dean Shiels seems an obvious candidate given his previous experience working in the league and current availability.

Shiels has been out of work since leaving Coleraine in May before the club's European play-off.

After initially joining as a first team coach, Shiels was promoted to manager of the Bannsiders in the summer of 2024 and led the club to fifth in the league during his sole season in charge.

The 40-year-old also managed Dungannon Swifts in the top-flight for more than two years, helping them stay in the division with a promotion/relegation play-off win in June 2023.

He balanced that with being assistant to his father Kenny, when he was in charge of the Northern Ireland Women's team.

Known for trying to implement a possession-based style of football, he may be able to get the best out of Glenavon's misfiring attack, that has scored just two goals in their nine games so far.

Oran Kearney

Oran Kearney spent 14 years at Coleraine with two spells as manager and one as sporting director

Much like his brother-in-law Shiels, Oran Kearney is an experienced Irish Premiership manager who is currently out of work and looking to return to a part-time club, which Glenavon fit the bill of.

"I haven't managed my last game, I can tell you that, and I think I've a huge amount left in the tank. I'm looking forward to the next chapter," he told BBC Sportsound back in August.

Kearney, like Shiels, departed the Coleraine Showgrounds in May, after spending a year as the club's sporting director.

Before that, Kearney had two spells as Bannsiders boss, either side of a one-season stint as St Mirren manager in 2018-19.

Kearney won the Irish Cup in 2018 and the League Cup two years later, as well as three runner-up finishes in the Irish Premiership.

The 47-year-old, like Shiels, has also been embroiled in a relegation scrap, in his case during his time with St Mirren. Kearney helped keep the Paisley side stay in the Scottish Premiership after a play-off win over Dundee United.

Barry Gray

Barry Gray has been out of work since leaving Newry in April 2024 to focus on cancer recovery

Barry Gray is another available manager who has Irish Premiership experience on his CV.

Gray had two spells as Warrenpoint Town boss, where he had to contend with a few relegation battles and also managed Cliftonville, leading the Reds to an Irish Cup final in 2018.

His most recent job was at Newry City, who were also fighting relegation when he took over in January 2024.

Gray was forced to step away from that job April 2024 to focus on recovery from throat cancer, which he was given the all-clear from in August last year.

Keen to return to management and having done his fair share of firefighting in the past, he could even be a sensible interim option.

Gary Hamilton

Gary Hamilton won two Irish Cups during his 12 years in charge of Glenavon

A left-field shout, given he is currently managing another club, but could Gary Hamilton be tempted back to a club he enjoyed so much success at as a player and manager?

Hamilton was appointed as manager of Premier Intermediate side Ballymacash Rangers in April, but they have lost their opening three games this season.

The 44-year-old sacked by the Lurgan Blues in September 2023 after almost 12 years in charge of the Irish Premiership club.

The former Northern Ireland international took over as player-manager in December 201, steering them off the bottom of the table and helping them avoid relegation during his first season in charge.

He then led the Mid-Ulster club to two Irish Cup successes in 2014 and 2016, four third-place finishes, and the European football that came with that.

Could he be tempted by another rebuild job at a club where he previously had such a long sting, or is he happy out of the limelight in the third-tier?

He previously revealed how tough it was to see his sons get upset at criticism he received from supporters towards the end of his Glenavon reign, so may not wish to reopen such wounds.