Nigel Pearson has emerged as the front-runner to become the next Coventry City manager after the club sacked Iain Dowie yesterday because of a dismal run of form.

Dowie had been in charge for only a year but a 1-0 defeat away to Preston North End on Saturday left Coventry four points clear of the relegation zone in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Coventry knocked Manchester United out of the Carling Cup at Old Trafford and beat Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup this season, but they have lost five of their past six league games. Tim Flowers, the assistant manager, has also left. Two coaches, Frankie Bunn and John Harbin, will take charge against Cardiff City tonight. Coventry host West Bromwich Albion in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday. They have become the thirtieth club in the top four divisions to change their manager this season.

Pearson resigned as a coach at Newcastle United last Friday. He was caretaker manager after the dismissal of Sam Allardyce last month. Among several coaching roles, the 44-year-old has been assistant to Stuart Pearce with England under-21s. Other contenders include Richard Money, the Walsall manager, and Billy Davies, the former Derby County manager.