Millward axed by Saints

"We've had some applications from the best coaches in the world," the Saints chairman told BBC Sport.

"I've got to make my mind up very quickly. Hopefully someone will be in place within a couple of weeks."

Former Australia coach Chris Anderson and New Zealand boss Daniel Anderson are just two of the high-profile names linked with the Knowsley Road job.

Millward's five-year reign as Saints coach came to an end on Tuesday following an internal investigation.

McManus insists Millward's actions had left him no choice but to sack him.

"I've been at this club for three or four years and it seems every season we've got some massive controversy that hits us," said McManus.

"I'll be quite candid, I'm sick of cleaning up this rubbish and I hope that this is the last piece of rubbish I do have to clean up.

"A coach has misbehaved very badly and he has had to be dealt with."

McManus said he had been surprised by the response of Saints fans upset with Millward's suspension and subsequent sacking.

But the Saints chairman blamed the media for the furore and also criticised the role of Millward's legal representative, Richard Cramer.

I have no faith in the club From SM Have your say on Five Live

"Ian Millward's solicitor has acted more as a PR agent than a legal adviser," said McManus.

"He has just trivialised this as bad language. It's much more than bad language.

"People say Ian's a great coach, that he's an icon amongst the supporters and popular in the press, but the standard he should be setting is higher than that."

Around 2,500 St Helens supporters staged a sit-down demonstration after last Friday's Challenge Cup win over York.

A lot of the supporters will not accept this decision Saints legend Alex Murphy

And Saints legend Alex Murphy has warned McManus to expect more protests.

"If he (McManus) thinks he has had a few problems in the last week, I think he's got a few more to come," said Murphy.

"I admire the man for making the decision but he must not expect a lot of people at St Helens to go along with him.

"A lot of the supporters will not accept this decision."

Murphy also felt McManus would have a hard job replacing Millward, who won five trophies in his time at Knowsley Road.

"Let's not forget, Millward is a very, very good coach. He has done what Saints have wanted him to do and it strikes me it was a marriage made in heaven."