Steve Staunton and Bobby Robson have both held talks with the Football Association of Ireland with a view to becoming the Republic's new managerial double act.
Staunton, lacking managerial experience, could be assisted by Robson - serving as a mentor to the former Republic of Ireland defender who is currently assistant manager to Paul Merson at Walsall.
Robson's role would be a full-time post. But the FAI are discussing the detail of what the former England, Barcelona and Newcastle boss' remit could be.
An FAI spokesman said: "The process is ongoing, with regard to a new managerial structure."
Should the duo be officially confirmed, their first game would be a Lansdowne Road friendly against Sweden on Wednesday March 1.
That will begin a six-month countdown to the start of the qualification programme for the 2008 European Championships.
Robson, in stark contrast to Staunton, has vast experience of management.
He cut his teeth at Fulham, whom he served as a player, before joining Ipswich in 1969 - leading the unfashionable Suffolk side to FA Cup success in 1978, two runners-up finishes in the old First Division and a UEFA Cup triumph in 1981.
He took on the England job in 1982 and took his country to the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals and the semi-finals in Italy in 1990.
Robson moved on to PSV Eindhoven, had a successful stint in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and Porto, led Barcelona to the European Cup Winners' Cup and returned to PSV before going back to his roots with Newcastle in 1999.
He brought about an upturn in the Tyneside club's fortunes, helping them qualify for the Champions League, but was sacked in August 2004 after a poor start to the 2004-05 campaign.
