NOT for the first time this season, Cherries are set to face managerless opposition following Lee Clark’s dismissal at Birmingham City on Monday.

Clark paid the price for a poor start to the campaign which saw the Blues win just two of their opening 12 games in the Championship.

The former Huddersfield boss earned a stay of execution at the end of last season after Birmingham had avoided relegation – on goal difference – following a dramatic chain of events on the final day.

However, there was no reprieve this time with defeat by Bolton at St Andrew’s six days ago compounding a dismal home record which has seen them win just one league game in 24 attempts.

In his final press conference, Clark, who succeeded Chris Hughton in June 2012, had launched an impassioned defence of his management and said he would not quit.

The decision, however, was taken out of his hands when the club’s Hong Kong-based owners, via executive director Panos Pavlakis, wielded the axe.

Assistant manager Steve Watson also departed St Andrew’s with first-team coach Richard Beale and head of recruitment Malcolm Crosby put in charge on a caretaker basis.

The club has put together a football panel to identify the right man to replace Clark, although they were rebuffed in an attempt to speak to MK Dons boss Karl Robinson earlier this week.

Since then, an approach, which was expected to be granted, was made for Burton Albion boss Gary Rowett, who spent two years at Birmingham as a player under Trevor Francis between 1998 and 2000.

Swindon’s Mark Cooper, also a former City player and son of ex-Blues boss Terry Cooper, is another to have been linked with the post, while Mike Phelan and Owen Coyle are both in the frame.

Birmingham will be without defender Neal Eardley for the visit of Cherries after he was sent off for two bookings during their defeat at Blackburn on Tuesday.