Martin O'Neill is poised to become the new Nottingham Forest manager in an emotional return to the City Ground for the 66-year-old.
Forest chiefs have gone with a romantic choice to succeed Aitor Karanka, 40 seasons after O'Neill helped win the club's first European Cup.
O'Neill has been out of work since leaving his role in charge of Republic of Ireland in November, and is seen by owner Evangelos Marinakis as the inspirational figure to reinvigorate a promotion push.
It is unclear at this stage if Roy Keane will join as assistant, although it is considered possible after the pair worked together with Ireland for five years. Keane has his own history with Forest of course, playing under Brian Clough between 1990 and 1993.
It will be O'Neill's first job in club management since being sacked at Sunderland in March 2013, with the side one point above the Premier League relegation zone. He takes over with Forest in ninth, four points off the play-off places.
Forest wanted to replace Karanka swiftly and the 2-0 loss to Reading hastened the process. Talks were conducted with O'Neill in London and Birmingham and an agreement reached quickly.
Slavisa Jokanovic and Carlos Carvalhal were also under consideration but Marinakis has selected O'Neill, with his bond to the club a compelling factor.
O'Neill spent a decade as a player at the City Ground, winning the two European Cups, the First Division title, and two League Cups.
