West Bromwich Albion have settled on former Basel and Young Boys coach Raphael Wicky as their preferred candidate to succeed Carlos Corberan at The Hawthorns.
The 47-year-old is now very short odds in the betting markets - and Albion have confirmed that an appointment is thought to be close.
Corberan quit the Baggies on Christmas Eve to take charge of his home town club Valencia in Spain.
Albion officials, led by sporting director Andrew Nestor, who has been heading the recruitment process, have been working on identifying a successor, leaving former player Chris Brunt to head a three-man caretaker management team.