Mark Venus is early runner in Shrewsbury Town race

The hunt was on today to find the new manager who will be charged with guiding Shrewsbury Town out of the League Two wilderness.

The managerial hot seat at the Prostar Stadium is up for grabs after the dramatic sacking of Paul Simpson yesterday.

Simpson was shown the door after two years in charge - and with another two years left on his contract - after a disappointing season for Shropshire's sole League club.

They went into today's final home game of the campaign against Morecambe stuck down in 12th place with nothing more than a remote mathematical chance of making the play-offs.

And former Wolves midfielder Mark Venus - who has worked as Tony Mowbray's assistant at Hibernian, West Brom and Celtic - today became the first to publicly state his interest.

His representative Des Bremner declared: "Mark is applying. He's very interested in getting into management on his own and he knows Shrewsbury is a great club with potential."

A string of other big names are sure to be interested in the post.

Former Shrewsbury chief Graham Turner has already publicly stated his desire to sell his shares at Hereford United, where he is currently chairman.

And a dream return to Shropshire would surely be a popular choice among fans who recall the glory days under Turner in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Ex-Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock has also been heavily linked with Shrewsbury on the rumour mill, as part of a management team with his long-term assistant, the former Town midfielder Kevin Summerfield.

Others expected to throw their hat in the ring include ex-Manchester United and England star Paul Ince, who is available after leaving MK Dons recently.

Jim Gannon is another experienced lower League manager out of work, having left Championship side Peterborough in order to try and find a club closer to his family in the north west.

Shrewsbury captain Graham Coughlan, 35, has already stated his desire to get into management - though he insists it is too early to think about whether that might be at Shrewsbury.

"It's something I would like to do," said Coughlan.

"I've spent the last five or six years away every summer on coaching courses, management courses and psychology courses.

"I love the game, and it's definitely something I would consider.

"But it's far too early for anybody to be speculating or to be gossiping about what the future holds here."