The end-of-season play-off encounters have so far proven to be great adverts for the Football League and tonight's clash between Huddersfield and Bournemouth is unlikely to be an exception.

The duo played out a great first leg at Dean Court, with penalty drama as well as a goal for either side and chances galore, but it is who is stood in the two side's respective dugouts that is perhaps of some interest to Swindon Town fans.

Huddersfield plucked Lee Clark from the coaching staff at Norwich back in 2008, giving him his first shot as a manager – an ambition of the 38-year-old's from the very moment he became a professional footballer.

Clark has taken Huddersfield to a top six finish in both of his full seasons with the club and this year has guided the Terriers on a remarkable 26-match unbeaten run.

For Bournemouth, Lee Bradbury is just months into his first-ever managerial appointment as he looks to finish off the good work started by Eddie Howe, who saved the Cherries from relegation and led them to promotion in what was also his first stint as a manager.

This is all relevant to Town because they too could be about to hand a former player his first chance in the cut-throat world of management.

Ex-Premier League stars Paolo Di Canio and Dietmar Hamann are believed to be two of the three names being discussed as potential successors to Paul Hart by the club's board.

Fully qualified with all the required coaching badges, the pair are enticing prospects for different reasons.

With Di Canio, the fiery Italian will no doubt demand the same passion and commitment from a player as he displayed during his days on the football pitch.

The 42-year-old is loved and respected by all fans of football and while he has had his moments of controversy over the years, it must not be forgotten that he also has a history of displaying great sportsmanship. The most notable incident of such came almost a decade ago as he opted to catch the ball rather than score when playing for West Ham against Everton, as goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was on the ground injured.

Hamann, meanwhile, has played under some of the most respected managers in football during an illustrious playing career that saw him turn out for the likes of Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City.

The 37-year-old has also played on the greatest stage football has to offer – a World Cup final – and his achievements will earn him the respect of anyone that plays for him.

The two are not infallible, and have made negative headlines in the past, but Clark too – a manager destined for at least the Championship with or without Huddersfield – has made mistakes and likely regrets wearing a t-shirt declaring 'sad Mackem b******s' in the stands of an FA Cup final while he was contracted to Sunderland.

There is no guarantee that either of the two will be the next manager of Swindon, which it was hoped would be revealed today, and it may well be that the board will opt for the potentially safer option of an experienced manager.

However, this appointment is arguably one of the most crucial for the club in years and if the board feels a day or two more is needed to ensure they make the correct choice, then they have to be commended for heeding the lessons of the past and ensuring that Town's destiny is placed in the right hands.