ALAN STUBBS, the Hibernian manager, has emerged as a surprise contender for the vacant position at Reading.

The Sky Bet Championship are in the process of drawing up a shortlist of candidates following their decision to dismiss Steve Clarke at the end of last week with Stubbs’ work at Easter Road understood to have attracted their attention.

Hibernian are currently on a nine-game winning streak in the Ladbrokes SPFL Championship and have emerged victorious from 14 of their last 15 fixtures in all competitions, reducing the gap between themselves and league leaders Rangers to just two points.

Nigel Pearson, the former Leicester City manager, was regarded the favourite for the Reading job with bookmakers, but reports from England stated last night that there could be a problem over personal terms.

Stubbs was linked with Wigan Athletic in the summer prior to Gary Caldwell being appointed manager and was rumoured to be in the frame for the Dundee United job after Jackie McNamara left earlier in the season.

He has stated publicly, on several occasions, that he is happy at Hibernian, but there would surely be a certain appeal in taking over a club within striking distance of the play-off places in English football’s second tier.

Dennis Bergkamp, the former Arsenal and Holland player, is known to be interested in the Reading job along with former Blackburn manager, Gary Bowyer.

Gary Rowett of Birmingham City has also been mentioned in despatches.

Stubbs spent almost six years on the coaching staff at Everton before striking out on his own at Hibernian in June 2014, signing a two-year contract.

He has developed a reputation for playing passing football and appears to have built a close-knit dressing room at a club that had become synonymous with friction behind the scenes.

Stubbs spoke back in October about being linked with Dundee United, though, and made it clear that he does have particular ambitions he is determined to fulfil as a manager.

“I have a job to do here at Hibs and nothing has changed,” he said. “I can’t stop things from going out there as that is the nature of football. If someone wants to link me with a job, I can’t control that.

“I have a job to do at Hibs and I am very happy.

“I am very ambitious and it (Dundee United) is a very good job for someone.

“I am at a big club in Hibs. I was given a good opportunity and we want to get promoted out of this division.

“I respect Dundee United as a club, but I respect Hibernian Football Club as well.”