Report: Neil Lennon emerges as early frontrunner to be appointed manager of Leicester

Neil Lennon is reportedly at the top of the list of potential replacements for Nigel Pearson.

According to the Guardian, Leicester City is still in the midst of finalising a shortlist of names for its vacant manager post, and Lennon - who is currently at Bolton Wanderers - is an early frontrunner to take over at King Power Stadium despite a lack of contact with the two parties.

The connection between Leicester and Lennon is strong, as he played for the club between 1996 and 2000.

Furthermore, both Jon Rudkin, Leicester's director of football, and Andrew Neville, the club's director of football operations, know Lennon well, and the pair will allegedly be involved in liaising with the Board of Directors and Thai owners Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha regarding Pearson's successor.

Leicester is reportedly putting no deadline on appointing their new manager, although it should be noted that the Premier League season kicks off in just over five weeks.

Other names in the frame for the available job apparently include Martin O'Neill and Bristol City manager Steve Coterill.