Bohemians and Dundee United opened discussions over Gypsies manager Pat Fenlon this afternoon and have agreed to resolve the issue one way or the other within the next 24 hours.
The Scottish Premier League club held talks with Fenlon yesterday and agreed personal terms with the Dubliner, but Bohs were adamant he would not leave for Tannadice without compensation in the region of €300,000 being paid.
The League of Ireland champions have since been contacted by the Scottish side and relations have reportedly softened somewhat, helped in part, by a frank exchange of views between Fenlon and Bohs officials this evening.
Fenlon has guided Bohs to back-to-back league titles, an FAI Cup and League Cup in the last two years and it that form and the recommendation of former manager Craig Levein that prompted them to approach the Dubliner to succeed the new Scotland boss.
Dundee United's interest in Fenlon was confirmed when Bohemians received a fax from them on Tuesday seeking permission to speak to Fenlon. That was granted but Bohs maintain they did so subject to a suitable compensation agreement being struck.
Reports in Scotland then claimed unpaid bonuses meant Fenlon was entitled to leave his Bohs contract, which has three years left to run, without the Dublin club being compensated.
These were strongly refuted by club secretary Gerry Conway, who said: "Bohemians Football Club is entitled to compensation, that's the bottom line.
"Anybody who says otherwise or leaks things to the media suggesting that is being mischievous."
Conway and Bohs then accused United of treating Bohemians with disrespect by failing to follow up their initial fax.
"I was surprised on Tuesday and Wednesday and I'm both surprised and disappointed that we still haven't had a phone call," Conway told PA before contact was re-established today.
United chairman Stephen Thompson recently accused the Scottish Football Association of treating his club "shabbily" for failing to send a compensation offer when Craig Levein agreed to leave United and take over as Scotland manager.
But the Tannadice chairman defended his club's conduct towards Bohemians.
"Dundee United have acted properly throughout our search for a new manager," Thompson told the Dundee Evening Telegraph. "We approached Bohemians for permission to speak to Pat Fenlon and only did so once they had faxed that permission.
"I would add, when they gave permission for us to speak to him, they did so without any pre-conditions."