The search for the new Republic of Ireland manager took another twist last night when candidate Graeme Souness emerged as the leading contender for the vacant position at Wigan Athletic.

The Premier League club, who brought the brief reign of Chris Hutchings to an abrupt end yesterday, claimed that neither Souness nor his representatives had been in contact, but the Scot has been heavily backed to supplant Hutchings and a source close to the 54-year-old indicated he was "desperate" to return to football.

Wigan insisted that no shortlist has been drawn up following the announcement that Hutchings had become the fourth Premier League manager to lose his job this season.

Dave Whelan, the chairman, will start an "exhaustive search" to replace Hutchings, and Paul Jewell, the previous incumbent, could make an unlikely return.

Stuart Pearce, the England Under-21 coach, would appear to represent a more plausible target.

Souness's position as the frontrunner was confirmed when a leading bookmaker suspended betting after considerable support for the former Liverpool, Blackburn and Newcastle manager. He has been out of football since he was dismissed at Newcastle in February 2006 and, over the weekend, expressed his interest in the Republic of Ireland position.

Wigan, though, would be a tempting proposition, with the club close to his home and offering a chance to return to the Premier League.

News that Souness was the favourite surprised Brenda Spencer, Wigan's chief executive.

"I haven't received anything from Graeme Souness or his representatives so that must just be speculation from within the betting fraternity," said Spencer.

Spencer admitted that Whelan was so alarmed at the decline that the chairman had feared Wigan, promoted to the Premier League in 2005, would be relegated unless a change was made.

"The chairman felt that for the interests of Wigan Athletic going forward, the results of late had not given him much confidence in the fact of staying in the Premiership," she said.

"And once you get to Christmas, if you are sitting at the bottom of the table, it's very difficult to turn around."

With modest resources, relegation carries great significance for Wigan. Performances as well as results accentuated those worries, with Wigan slipping into the bottom three following the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

That match proved to be Hutchings' last opportunity as Whelan announced his "very difficult decision" yesterday.

The chairman confirmed that Hutchings' former assistant, Frank Barlow, would take charge for Sunday's visit to Tottenham.