A FORMER Liverpool FC legend has emerged as a surprise candidate for the vacant managerial job at Bangor City.

The Chronicle understands that John Barnes is being lined up to replace Stephen Vaughan Jr at the JD Cymru North outfit after the controversial ex-chairman departed the role on Monday following their 7-0 hammering at Prestatyn Town.

This would represent a significant coup for the Citizens, with new chairman Dominico Serafino set to invest heavily in all areas of the set-up in a bid to get the club back into the JD Cymru North and repair the fractured relationship with large sections of the City fan base.

Barnes enjoyed a glittering career at Liverpool following a £900,000 move from Watford, making 314 appearances during a trophy-laden spell of dominance for the Reds under Kenny Dalglish.

He was also capped 79 times by England and played a prominent role in the national side reaching the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

The former winger, who also represented Newcastle United and Charlton Athletic, was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year once 1988 and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year twice in 1988 and 1990.

Barnes’ managerial career saw him take over at Celtic for a brief and unsuccessful period, and has since gone on to manage the Jamaican U21 national team in 2005 and Tranmere Rovers in 2009.

The Citizens’ are in need of a much-needed boost after a turbulent two years’ that has seen them go from top flight runners-up to facing the prospect of Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division One football prior to their successful appeal regarding a 42-point deduction imposed by the Football Association of Wales.

They currently sit 11th in the JD Cymru North standings, 13 points behind Prestatyn with two games in hand.

Nothing has yet been confirmed by club officials relating to the possible appointment.