Hunt under way to find next Magpies boss...

NOTTS County are now on the hunt for a new manager, having sacked Stuart Maynard following their League Two play-off semi-final defeat to AFC Wimbledon.

- SAM ALLEN

The betting markets often give a fairly accurate representation of the type of candidates a club are looking at.

The Magpies' ambitions on the pitch are fairly clear, with Maynard's inability to get the club promoted out of League Two costing him his job, so his replacement will instantly be met with high expectations.

Here are some of the early names that are being mentioned by bookmakers for the vacancy.

Joao Alves.

It may be surprising to most to see Alves leading the way with a few betting sites, given he would be a rookie head coach if appointed, having only recently been promoted to a coaching position for the first time before that.

He stepped up to be Maynard's number two in the latter part of this season after Matt and Craig Saunders departed the club for another opportunity, with Alves originally coming to Notts as an analyst for the first team.

It would be risky for the club to appoint the Portuguese coach in the top role, given his lack of previous experience in that position, but he has spent over four years at Notts in different roles, so he knows the club and the team well.

Most would think the club would lean towards a more experienced choice after Maynard, who had only managed part-time Wealdstone in the National League before coming to Meadow Lane.

Des Buckingham.