Middlesbrough are set to reveal details of progress in the effort to make Gareth Southgate their new manager after announcing a press conference for tomorrow afternoon.
Chairman Steve Gibson has refused to give up on his bid to appoint former England defender Southgate, despite opposition from the League Managers' Association.
Gibson has been trying to garner support among his fellow chairmen for a relaxation of the regulations to allow the 35-year-old to replace Steve McClaren amid claims that he has already been told his efforts are doomed to failure.
It is understood that Boro have not yet made a formal approach to the FA Premier League - the governing body were not commenting on the matter today - although the prognosis if they do so does not look encouraging.
Premier League rules mean Southgate could only manage the club for 12 weeks because he does not have a UEFA Pro Licence - indeed, he will not complete his B Licence until this summer.
New Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder did not have the higher qualification either, and it is upon that fact - as well as his readiness to allow McClaren to take up the England job despite having tied him up in a long-term contract - that Gibson is pinning his hopes.
There was no word from Middlesbrough tonight as to whether there has been a significant development to prompt the press conference announcement.
However, given the club's reluctance to discuss the issue in recent weeks, it seems likely Boro have either taken a giant stride towards gaining approval for Southgate or been dealt a setback.
Boro did confirm that the press conference was to make an announcement regarding McClaren's successor.
Newcastle were granted permission to appoint Roeder after the Premier League, who initially turned down their request, decided to refer the decision to their 20 chairmen because of the unique extenuating circumstances surrounding the application.
Roeder was already an experienced manager who had started his Pro Licence course before he was struck down by a brain tumour in 2003, and chairman Freddy Shepherd managed to persuade a two-thirds majority - it is believed the approval rate was much higher than that - of his counterparts to waive the rules.
On the face of it, Boro's case does not appear as strong, although Gibson is pressing ahead nevertheless and told the Times: 'No-one knows this club like Gareth does and I do. He has seen it from the inside, knows how it operates and buys into it.'
Gibson predicted Southgate would 'make a great manager', however the LMA would argue that he lacks the relevant experience and certificates.
LMA chief executive John Barnwell, who fiercely objected to Roeder's appointment at Newcastle, is maintaining a similar stance in Middlesbrough's case, although ultimately it will be Premier League clubs - and not the LMA - who will have the final say.
Barnwell, who claims league chiefs have already turned down Gibson, told the LMA website, www.leaguemanagers.com: 'I would reiterate that this is not an LMA matter, it is a UEFA directive and an FA Premier League rule.
'We believe it is up to the FA and the Premier League to maintain the agreed qualification standards.'
Gibson turned to Southgate after failing to get the answers he wanted from Terry Venables, Martin O'Neill and Alan Curbishley, and in his determination to build upon the work done by McClaren during his five years on Teesside.
Assistant boss Steve Round, who has the Pro Licence, represents an alternative, although it is understood that the chairman is currently looking no further.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough's bid to sign German international defender Robert Huth has been boosted by Newcastle ending their interest in the 21-year-old Chelsea player.
