Ralph Hasenhuttl is highly unlikely to replace the recently sacked Frank Lampard as Everton manager, David Ornstein has claimed.

What's the word?

Everton are on the hunt for a head coach in what could be one of the most important decisions they've had to make in years, as they face a potential first-ever relegation from the Premier League.

Hasenhuttl, who was relieved of his role at Southampton earlier this season, is currently unattached, and is one of the names linked with the job alongside Sean Dyche and Marcelo Bielsa.

However, Ornstein has revealed that Hasenhuttl can effectively be considered out of the running.

Speaking on Sky Sports News (via Football Daily), Ornstein revealed that Hasenhuttl is not an appointment that looks likely to happen.

He said: "In terms of other options, we've seen Ralph Hasenhuttl mentioned. It's been said to me that he won't be going there and it's very unlikely that he would take it."

A stable coach needed

Given their position in the table, Everton need a safe pair of hands who can help guide them away from the bottom three, as a first relegation could be disastrous for the club.

In the event that they go down, they could look towards a long-term coach to help bring them back up immediately and try and implement a vision for the future, but for now, they need someone who can make an immediate impact on the squad without making many transfers.

This is especially imperative given they are due to move into their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in 2024.

Just a few days remain in the window, and any signings or sales could depend upon the coach that is appointed, so a quick decision would be necessary for that, while they would have to be able to get the best out of the current squad almost immediately, although they have been disappointing all season.

Hasenhuttl could have come in as a manager who knows the league well from his time at Southampton, and having kept the Saints in the division until his sacking in November, he may well have been an ideal short-term candidate at the very least, but now it appears Everton will have to look elsewhere.