Neil Lennon emerges as early leading candidate for vacant Leicester City job

Sam Allardyce appears to be out of the running for the Foxes post

(Getty)

Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon is said to be interested in the vacant Leicester City job as the East Midlands club consider making an approach for their former midfielder.

The 44-year-old Northern Irishman spent four years under Martin O'Neill with the Foxes in the 1990s as the club lifted the League Cup twice and qualified for European football.

Leicester officially started their search for a new boss yesterday morning after the shock decision to dispense with Nigel Pearson in light of 'fundamental differences in perspective' between the board and their manager.

Foxes director of football Jon Rudkin, who was a youth coach during Lennon's spell at Filbert Street, is believed to be an admirer of his managerial qualities. According to the Daily Mirror, the former Celtic boss is prepared to leave Bolton to take up the challenge.

Leicester had nobody lined up when they decided to cancel Pearson's contract but Lennon has now been installed as the leading candidate with most bookmakers.

Pearson is reported to have been stunned by the decision which followed his son's involvement in a sex tape filmed in Thailand which featured racist language.

Neil Lennon enjoyed a successful spell at Leicester before leaving for Celtic (Getty)

Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce seemed to be in poll position for the post in the hours after Pearson's sacking but the former West Ham boss wants to enjoy a sabbatical before returning to football.

Lennon, on the other hand, took charge at Bolton last October with the club bottom of the Championship but managed to preserve their second-tier status. During a four year tenure at Celtic Park, he lifted the Scottish Premier League on three occasions but questions remain over his credentials in England.

It is not yet known how the news will be received by those at the Macron Stadium while Leicester supporters are split over the merits of bringing Lennon back to the club.