FORMER Ipswich Town managers George Burley and Jim Magilton could go head-to-head for the vacant Swindon Town managerial position.

Reports emanating from Swindon suggest the two former Town favourites are in the running to replace Paul Hart after the Robins were relegated to League Two.

Former England Under-21s manager Peter Taylor and West Ham legend Paolo Di Canio are other names said to be in the frame.

Magilton last month revealed he was ready to return to management after being sacked by Ipswich in 2009 and then falling out of favour at QPR following a bust-up with midfielder Akos Buzsaky.

Having had his compensation with Town finally sorted out, Magilton said: “Like any manager out of work I want to get back into it as soon as possible as I miss the day-to-day involvement with players and staff.

I have had a break now for 14 months and I am refreshed and ready to go again. Despite some of the things that happened at Ipswich and QPR I have not lost my appetite for management.

“I am an ambitious person and want to manage at the highest level, but I would have no problem managing a team at a lower level.”

Magilton’s spell playing at Swindon’s rivals Oxford might not make him an automatic favourite among supporters at the County Ground with Burley seemingly a preferred option among fans. The former Scotland boss has been out of management since he was sacked by Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day.

Other potential candidates include former Bristol Rovers boss Paul Trollope and Town legend Paul Bodin.