Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink joins Frank Lampard in race to manage Oxford United
Ex-Chelsea players in the frame to replace Michael Appleton with ex-Leeds assistant boss Pep Clotet also being considered
JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK could be heading for a tug-of-war over the Oxford United job with Frank Lampard.
The two-ex-Chelsea players are in the running to succeed Michael Appleton, who quit to become No 2 at Leicester City.
Hasselbaink, who has been out of work since his sacking at QPR in November, is understood to have held talks with United last week.
Lamps is good friends with Oxford’s director Dave Jones, who is leading a three-man panel to find their next manager.
But Hasselbaink, who had a very successful stint with Burton prior to his flop spell at Loftus Road, could well fit the bill.
However, aside from Lampard, Pep Clotet is also in the running after leaving Leeds.
The Spaniard, 40, worked as Garry Monk's assistant at Swansea and Elland Road but decided against following his pal to Middlesbrough to pursue his ambitions as a manager in his own right.
Clotet is also understood to have held talks with Oxford last week and could well pip Hasselbaink and Lampard to the post.
It depends if the League One club decide to take a punt on the ex-Malaga B boss, who has gained plenty of admirers from within the game for his methods despite his lack of a professional playing career.
Lampard, meanwehile, called quits on his playing career in February after a spell in the US with New York City.
He said in March: “I want to manage. Most of my career I wasn’t sure but when I got into my thirties I became a lot more interested.
“Much as I’m interested in coaching I’ve just as much interest in how to deal with people.”