The hunt for the new Republic of Ireland manager is reaching its "concluding phase" - with Giovanni Trapattoni set to be confirmed in the job on Wednesday.
Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney is due in Austria on Tuesday to meet with the veteran Italian's advisors and thrash out the details of his contract.
The FAI have called a board meeting for Wednesday afternoon, when officials are due to meet with the three-man selection panel who were charged with finding Steve Staunton's successor - comprising Don Givens, Ray Houghton and Don Howe - after which they are expected to confirm Trapattoni as the new boss.
Delaney told Setanta: "I think we are entering the concluding phase in the search for the next Irish manager.
"They have done various interviews over the last couple of days - I am not going to say where they were or where they weren't because of the confidentiality that has been around most of the interviews and most of the meetings - but what I do know is that I got a call from Don to say could we organise a board meeting for Wednesday at 4.30pm.
"We'll have a press conference on Wednesday and I think we are entering the concluding stages in the search for a new manager."
Reports in Ireland claimed the selection panel held talks with the 68-year-old on Sunday night in Austria, and that Trapattoni agreed to take over when his contract with Red Bull Salzburg expires in May.
According to the Irish Examiner, former Republic midfielder Liam Brady, who had a successful playing career in Italy with the likes of Sampdoria and Juventus, is set to join Trapattoni's backroom staff as a general manager.
Barring any last-minute problems, the new regime should be in place before the Croke Park friendly with Serbia on May 24.
Trapattoni's last taste of international management came with Italy, who he led to the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.
However, after a shock second round exit to South Korea in the former, he was not kept on by the Italian FA when the Azzurri failed to progress from their group in Portugal four years ago.
His next stop was Benfica, who he led to the Portuguese title, before an ill-fated and brief spell at Stuttgart in Germany's Bundesliga.
A glittering managerial career has also taken in some of Europe's biggest clubs including AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
If Trapattoni is confirmed in his new post on Wednesday, it will bring to an end a long trawl for the new Republic boss following Staunton's sacking on October 24 last year.
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