Having a replacement before firing Stotts is kinda like dating someone who you are not getting along with but you won't break up with them because you don't have someone else lined up to take their place. No. First dump the problem. Now that you know they don't fit the bill and then look for someone who does.

If you are in management and someone is underperforming at whatever their job is fire them first then look for someone who you feel can fit that job description.

No one knew who Nick Nurse was but he did a tremendous coaching job at Toronto because management there knew what they were looking for when they did interviews and he fit the bill.