The hunt for the new Republic of Ireland manager is reaching its concluding phase - with Giovanni Trapattoni set to be confirmed in the job tomorrow.
Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney is due in Austria today to meet with the veteran Italian's advisors and thrash out the details of his contract.
The FAI have called a board meeting for tomorrow afternoon, when officials are due to meet with the three-man selection panel who were charged with finding Steve Staunton's successor - comprising Don Givens, Ray Houghton and Don Howe - after which they are expected to confirm Trapattoni as the new boss.
‘There is a preferred candidate to be the next Irish manager, that will be brought to the board and we will hold a press conference after the board meeting to tell the public who the next Irish manager is going to be,’ Delaney told RTÉ.
According to the Irish Examiner, former Republic of Ireland midfielder Liam Brady, who had a successful playing career in Italy with the likes of Sampdoria and Juventus, is set to join Trapattoni's backroom staff as a general manager.
Barring any last-minute problems, the new regime should be in place before the Croke Park friendly with Serbia on 24 May.
Trapattoni's last taste of international management came with Italy, who he led to the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.
However, after a shock second round exit to South Korea in the former, he was not kept on by the Italian FA when the Azzurri failed to progress from their group in Portugal four years ago.
His next stop was Benfica, who he led to the Portuguese title, before an ill-fated and brief spell at Stuttgart in Germany's Bundesliga.
A glittering managerial career has also taken in some of Europe's biggest clubs including AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
If Trapattoni is confirmed in his new post on Wednesday, it will bring to an end a long trawl for the new Republic boss following Staunton's sacking on 24 October last year.
