Port Vale are poised to name former Fulham manager Micky Adams as their new boss by the end of this week.
The former Leicester City boss appears to have won the race to succeed Dean Glover ahead of his only rival for the job, former Cheltenham manager John Ward.
It is understood that a majority of Vale’s nine-man board have chosen Adams as their preferred candidate.
The 47-year-old’s appointment should be sealed at a board meeting tonight.
Sheffield-born Adams is believed to be ready to accept the personal terms on offer, although he was due to hold further talks with chairman Bill Bratt today.
Barring no last-minute hiccups, Adams is likely to be unveiled as boss either tomorrow or on Friday.
Last week, Ward and Adams held separate talks with Dave Ames, the chairman of club sponsors and prospective investors Harlequin Property.
Adams’s cause was boosted when it emerged that Harlequin favoured him for the job.
The former Stoke City defender is set to return to management after an unsuccessful 10-month spell at League One Brighton came to an end in February.
During his first stint with the Seagulls, in 2000/01, Adams led them to promotion from League Two. He also achieved the feat with Fulham in 1996/97.
Adams has also managed in the top flight with Leicester City, guiding the Foxes to the Premier League in the 2002/03 season.
During a less successful spell at Coventry, between 2005-2007, Adams’s assistant was former Stoke striker Adrian Heath, who now manages the Potters’ sister club in America, Austin Aztex.
Heath is in no doubt Adams can revive the club’s fortunes.
He said: “Mick is very committed and somebody who wears his heart on his sleeve. He is very demanding and doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
“But he’s a players’ manager. He has gone through his apprenticeship, has achieved a few promotions and knows League Two well.
“He has proved he can get teams out of this division.”
