Perhaps it might be a good idea to move Nigel Pearson to a less stressful position, such as director of football, and then ask for his advice on who the next manager should be. Nigel has a lot of connections in football and his new job would allow him and his team to work on a plan to see what's really out there to boost the squad. Many top rate players have come from the strangest of backgrounds but you need to be prepared to look in an organized manner. The managerial candidate(s) should have the background we want and would also have had amicable relations with NP, so no egos get in the way.
The decisions made between now and January are critical on many fronts, especially our survival in the Championship, but we need diplomacy, compassion combined with a lot of common sense during the inevitable discussions over the next month or so to enable us to find a firmer footing, along with some badly needed luck.