Aston Villa are stepping up moves to appoint Rangers manager Steven Gerrard and significant developments are expected in the next 48 hours.
Villa are using the international break to consider their next move but expect to have a manager in place for the home game against Brighton on 20 November.
It looks increasingly likely former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard, 41, will be in charge for that game.
Dean Smith was sacked on Sunday after a run of five successive league defeats.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez also figured in the Villa hierarchy's discussions but Gerrard has always been the favourite and efforts to finalise an appointment will intensify before the weekend.