Swansea City have confirmed the departure of Paul Clement after just less than a year in the job and Tony Pulis is early favourite to take charge at The Liberty Stadium.

Clement managed to guide Swansea to safety last season, but he now leaves them bottom of the Premier League table and four points adrift of safety after picking up just three wins so far this term.

We revealed at the start of December that Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, along with American owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan were considering his position.

Now they have decided to pull the plug with the club firm favourites for relegation – BetVictor make them 2/9 to go down, which is a probability of just over 80%.

I understand that former Stoke, Crystal Palace, West Brom boss Tony Pulis is a man they are seriously looking at, and could offer him a quick return to Premier League management and also a return to his native South Wales.

Pulis has a tremendous record in the Premier League, and sources have confirmed to me he is on their list.

Another name they have talked about is Ryan Giggs, a man they considered before appointing Clement. Former Everton boss Ronald Koeman and Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill have also been mentioned – along with ex-Manchester United chief Louis van Gaal.

Former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is another they are looking at and they are hoping to make an appointment before Christmas.

I am told the club have been also been looking around the world at potential candidates – but the fact they are in such trouble could lead them to appoint a manager with Premier League experience.

Bookmakers make Pulis odds-on favourite at 8/11 ahead of van Gaal and Koeman.