The messy break-up between Mick Malthouse and Carlton was finally confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.

Few expected Carlton to make the finals this season, the last of Malthouse’s reported $1 million-a-year contract, but improvement was expected. It didn’t come.

• Mick gone: Carlton sack Malthouse 
• 40 years in footy: Malthouse’s career in pictures
• Wordsmith: Malthouse’s best quotes
• Malthouse exit puts Blues deeper in the red

Carlton’s last month has been insipid. Collingwood, Greater Western Sydney and Geelong have hammered them and they somehow conspired to lose to Brisbane.

So interim coach John Barker has plenty of work to do in his bid to win the job full-time.

But at least he won’t have to contend with West Coast legend John Worsfold, who had been the bookies’ favourite but rule himself out of contention on Tuesday night.

We’ve taken a closer look at Barker’s credentials, and the others in line to permanently replace Malthouse.

John Barker – in the chair

Probably the front-runner at this early stage, given he’s got a 15-round audition the others don’t.

But that’s a lengthy trial with a pretty average list.

Was Carlton’s backline coach before stepping in for Malthouse and has been at the Blues since 2010.

The former Fitzroy, Brisbane and Hawthorn player has extensive experience at AFL level – albeit not in the top job.

Was St Kilda’s assistant coach in 2007 and 2008 under Ross Lyon, and managed Hawthorn’s forward line in 2009 and 2010.

Mark Thompson – been there, done that

Unlikely that he would fancy a rescue mission at Carlton after a tough season at Essendon standing in for James Hird last year.

But maybe the size of the challenge will appeal to Thompson?

The coach who can turn Carlton around and make the club great again will be revered forever by the Navy Blue faithful.

Thompson’s appearances on Fox Footy show he still has the hunger and desire for a coaching role.

His effort in guiding a distracted and disjointed Essendon side to the finals last season in Hird’s absence was a sterling effort.

His credentials are undoubted, having led Geelong to ultimate glory in 2007 and 2009, and Carlton fans would be delighted if he took on the job.

Stuart Dew – influential at Sydney

The highly-regarded Sydney assistant seemed set to join Melbourne in 2013 as part of Paul Roos’ succession plan.

But Dew instead signed a new three-year contract with the Swans. He said at the time: “It [coaching] is obviously something that really dominates your life … I thought another one or two more years and then I’d be ready to embrace that opportunity.”

Dew probably thinks he is ready now and won flags as a player with Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.

And how’s this for an endorsement from Sydney star Josh Kennedy?

“We’d definitely miss him at the Swans [if he goes] because he’s a great part of the coaching group there … [he] has a great balance of getting along with the players but also the ability to coach and direct us,” he told Game Day last week.

Brett Ratten – a favourite son

It’d be a bold move for Carlton to ask Ratten to come back.

He joined Carlton at the age of 18 in 1990 and played 255 games before returning in 2007 as coach, only to be stood down five years later.

But few things surprise in football and many Blues fans regard the decision to get rid of Ratten as a mistake.

He took on a club in turmoil, led them to three successive finals appearances and in 2011, Carlton were a kick away from a preliminary final.

Ratten handled his departure with dignity and after a season-long break, joined Hawthorn in late 2012.

Ratten has impressed at the Hawks, who have won the flag in both of his full years at the club.

Others in the mix:

Brendon Bolton – Coached the Hawks five times last season in the enforced absence of Alastair Clarkson and won them all. The Hawthorn assistant is said to have applied for the Adelaide job, taken by Phil Walsh, last year.

Dean Laidley – The only member of Carlton’s back-room staff with senior coaching experience. Laidley – who manages the midfield at the Blues – coached North Melbourne from 2003 to 2009, leading them to a preliminary final in 2007.

Peter Sumich – The Fremantle assistant has to be close to a senior job somewhere. Sumich was ‘down to the last two’ for positions at West Coast and Essendon, won by Adam Simpson and Matthew Knights respectively. Looked after West Coast’s Rolls Royce midfield in their premiership-winning season of 2006.

Michael Voss – Currently Port Adelaide’s midfield manager, Voss spent five years in charge of the Brisbane Lions. He took on the job at the age of 33 and has since said he needed more experience. Whether has got that since joining the Power in October remains to be seen but Carlton have previously been keen on Voss.

Guy McKenna – Sacked by the Gold Coast Suns last year, McKenna’s return to Melbourne was purely a career-based decision. He is keen for another chance to prove his worth and given the Suns’ current plight, perhaps he wasn’t so bad after all.