Sir Bobby Robson is understood to be lining up long-time right-hand man John Carver to join him in the new Republic of Ireland set-up. Robson is to be appointed in an advisory role to new manager Steve Staunton, providing there are no last-minute hitches in negotiations.
Staunton, Ireland's most-capped player who has recently been working as a coach at Coca-Cola League One Walsall, is due to be handed a four-year contract. In one of football's most unlikely double acts, it is believed Robson will be given a two-year deal by the FAI.
The FAI see that as ideal for Robson in order to ease Staunton into an unfamiliar role, given his lack of managerial experience. However, a recognised coach is also of importance - and Robson trusts no one more than Carver who was his assistant manager during his five years in charge at Newcastle.
Carver had previously been Newcastle's centre of excellence director under Kevin Keegan, youth coach under Kenny Dalglish and first-team coach under Ruud Gullit. He took charge of the Magpies for one match on a caretaker basis following Robson's sacking. That was a 3-0 win over Graeme Souness' former club Blackburn, in the wake of which he was released by the Scot who brought in his own backroom team when he took over as Newcastle's new manager 16 months ago.
Carver was reappointed soon afterwards as academy director for a short period, before taking over as head coach at Leeds in July. Robson is understood to have previously stated if he were ever to get back into football he would seek out Carver to again work alongside him.
Given the part-time nature of international football, Carver would still be in a position to carry out his duties with Leeds as they seek promotion to the Premiership. The impending appointment of Staunton and Robson has caused a dismissive wave of apathy among Ireland supporters.
They have questioned the FAI's decision to go for a managerial duo, although among former players there is a belief they could click. Ray Houghton played alongside Staunton, who went on to win 102 caps in a 13-year international career which included three World Cups.
"The players have a healthy respect for him, and if the fans see progress and a bit of belief and spirit he'll be fine," said Houghton, who won 73 caps between 1986 and 1998.
"Sir Bobby has been it, seen it and done it. Steve can lean heavily on him, especially when it comes to the media. But once he gets to grips with it, Steve will be his own man and want to pick the team.
"A lot of people will level the fact he's inexperienced against him, but other nations have done the same thing. Marco van Basten got Holland qualified for the World Cup this year, and Jurgen Klinsmann was plucked from nowhere and is manager of the host nation [Germany]."
Tony Cascarino, another who knows Staunton well, told BBC Sport: "There's huge respect for Steve in Ireland, and he knows how to get the best out of players. It's very tough to walk out of your playing days and straight into management, but having someone alongside will help him enormously.
"He'll want to get that typical fighting spirit back and get a great atmosphere going. There was a lot of paranoia towards the end of Brian Kerr's reign, and that spilled over on to the pitch.
"The Irish public will be a bit dubious because of his inexperience. But they'll be pleased, because it's an Irishman who'll be leading their country."
Former striker Cascarino - who scored 19 goals in 88 appearances - warns, however, that the pressure will be on from the start. "The only way you can change opinions is by getting results," he said. "He'll get at least one qualifying campaign - but he's certainly got to qualify for Euro 2008 or the 2010 World Cup."
