Wayne Rooney has the support of Derby's players to become the club's full-time boss after impressing them during his four games at the helm.
The former England captain is unbeaten since he was promoted to lead Derby's interim coaching team last month, and the Rams are now only one point adrift of safety in the Championship after Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Brentford.
Yet until the proposed £60million takeover by Sheik Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan – a cousin of Manchester City owner Sheik Mansour – is completed, Derby are unlikely to make a permanent appointment.