Colin Calderwood is being lined up as Aston Villa's new assistant manager after resigning from the same position at Championship rivals Brighton.
Ex-Northampton and Nottingham Forest boss Calderwood, 51, is a former Villa player and lives in Northampton - which would also mean a much shorter commute.
A Brighton statement said Calderwood, who was placed on gardening leave on 12 November, quit for a job "elsewhere".
The Seagulls host Villa in a league match on Friday.