NOW the dust has settled over Mick Tuohy's departure as City's first-team coach, thoughts will turn to who should be his replacement.

John Barton is believed to have already identified several potential targets, the majority of whom are currently with other clubs.

And surely the best move would be to get someone in from outside the club, who perhaps can inject a few new ideas and - most importantly - get the best out of an under-achieving squad who quite clearly haven't been playing consistently to their full potential.

Granted, the players did finally live up to expectations at St George's Lane on Saturday as they crushed Nuneaton Borough 4-0 in a stunning display - although it came after Tuohy's departure.

But they haven't done it week in, week out this season and that's why they're not making a stronger challenge for the title.

It can be argued that there are several prime candidates for the post already in the City dressing room, although whether they have the appropriate coaching qualifications is another matter.

Strong cases could be made for an experienced player-coach, while Ray Woods' sterling work with the club's Academy won't have gone unnoticed.

There's also merit in appointing a player-coach from outside the club who's perhaps played at a much higher level who might be looking to take his first step into management, and who can help raise the profile of the club and perhaps add something to the playing side as well.

But in my view, ideally they need an experienced coach with first-hand knowledge not only of this level but perhaps of a higher standard of football, who can analyse just why City haven't performed as they should this season, as well as shake up some of the training methods.

It's hard, though, not to feel some sympathy for Tuohy, who's put plenty of hard work into his role over the past four-and-a-bit years and is a decent, honest bloke to boot.

But he's now found himself surplus to requirements again, having also been frozen out in Graham Allner's management reshuffle in 1999 before Barton brought him back a few months later.

As Barton admitted, Tuohy's work in helping put the club back on an even keel from the mess they inherited following Allner's ill-fated reign proved invaluable, and he's played a crucial role in the club's season-by-season improvement ever since.

But major investment in the team still hasn't brought a sustained title challenge and it's been felt that to take that extra step, a change is perhaps needed.

Tuohy was unlucky to be the victim, but there's little room for sentiment in football these days.