Former Stags hero Richie Barker, Martin Allen, Micky Adams and Nigel Clough are also names being put forward by fans as possible successors, together with McEwan and current assistant boss Paul Holland.

• Stags manager shock news centre - All the stories

Dearden left the Stags 'by mutual consent' after being called into a meeting with chief executive Stephen Booth and non executive chairman James Derry - following telephone discussions between them and owner Keith Haslam.

The drama followed a 4-0 home drubbing on Saturday which left the Stags deep in the relegation mire and facing non league football - and without a win at Field Mill since before Christmas.

On Sunday afternoon, Booth announced that assistant manager Paul Holland would be in charge of the team for Tuesday night's match against Hereford at Field Mill.

And he said that he did not exclude Holland from being the new manager of the Stags.

The chief executive - now in London on business - will be interviewing a number of candidates over the rest of the weekend and next week.

Both the chief executive and non executive chairman stressed that the decision to part company with Dearden was not pre-planned.

But already one name is being heavily backed as a possible successor to Dearden.

• I would like challenge of keeping Stags up - McEwan

Former Stags player Billy McEwan featured in the side which won a title in the 1970s - and has since had managerial success and experience at Rotherham United and Derby County.

He has been spotted at Field Mill over recent matches and is available to start straight away, having been sacked as manager of Blue Square Premier side York City in November.

The experienced 56-year-old joined York as manager in 2005, following spells in charge of Sheffield United, Rotherham (where he won the Division IV title), Darlington and Derby County, and took them to the verge of promotion last season.

McEwan played 32 league games for the Stags, scoring three goals. He also played for Hibs, Blackpool, Brighton, Chesterfield, Peterborough and Rotherham.

He was part of the famous side which won the old Division III title in 1977, propelling the Stags into the top tier of English football for their only season.

And it seemed as though he was going to be appointed as the new manager when Dearden departed. But then on Sunday afternoon came the announcement that Holland would be in temporary charge.

A second familiar face in local football has also been seen at Field Mill in recent weeks.

Colin Murphy, a former manager of both Notts County and Lincoln City, is the director of development at Hull City - but he is recovering from a recent illness which saw him away from the KC Stadium over Christmas and the New Year and is not thought to be a possible candidate.

Many fans would like to see the popular Richie Barker offered a role as player manager. But would Barker, now at Hartlepool, want to return to Field Mill from where he was reportedly forced out and sold for around £80,000 in January 2007?

Barker has been at the Mill this season to watch a couple of home matches with his young son, a Stags fan, and remains a terrace hero.

He is also continuing to gain his coaching qualifications while playing at Hartlepool and was always popular among the players during his time at Field Mill.

A link-up between Barker and prolific striker Mick Boulding would also virtually guarantee the Stags goals and bring the crowds back to Field Mill.

Two names mentioned by fans are both former Leicester City managers who have experience in the lower divisions - Martin Allen and Micky Adams. Adams is thought to be on his way to Shrewsbury, who parted company with Gary Peters recently, but Allen (42) would be seen as a great motivator.

Nicknamed 'Mad Dog', he left Leicester at the start of the season after a brief three-month spell in charge, but previously had success at Brentford and MK Dons.

Allen, who missed out on the vacant Swindon job recently, is known to be keen on a quick return to management.

Peters, who lost his job after a recent slump in form - just one win in 12 matches - following a great start to the season is also a possible candidate.

As is the vastly experienced Ian Atkins, who has rescued clubs from relegation battles before.

Another popular choice for some supporters would be Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough, but could the Stags tempt him out of non league into when he has always previously resisted attempts to lure him into the Football League?

Former Rochdale manager John Hollins - a Chelsea star as a player and also a former manager at Stamford Bridge, Swansea and Crawley - would also have been a candidate with his Mansfield links . . . his brother Dave was a Stags star in the 60s.

However, in January he became Weymouth's manager and it is unlikely that the Stags have time to appoint a manager currently at another club.

One out-of-work manager familiar with the lower divisions and a relegation fight is Steve Thompson, the former Notts County, Lincoln City, Southend United and Cambridge United boss, sacked by the Magpies in October.

Whoever the new manager is, chief executive Stephen Booth has made it clear there is money for him to strengthen the squad with loan players.

• There is money for new players - Booth

Booth told Chad on Friday money was available and re-iterated his comments after announcing Dearden's departure.

He said: "Effectively we have a quarter of the season left. There is money to bring in players and the loan window closes in two weeks."

Booth promised an announcement on Dearden's replacement within 48 hours, saying a shortlist of candidates had been drawn up.

But who would you like to see in charge at Field Mill? Many fans would like to see popular former striker Richie Barker handed a player manager's role. Let us know your choice below