Bristol City are closing in on the appointment of Lincoln City boss Michael Skubala as their new permanent manager, following the collapse of talks with Bournemouth assistant Tommy Elphick.
The Championship club have moved swiftly for the 43-year-old, who is expected to replace interim manager Roy Hodgson. A compensation package in excess of £1 million is required, as Skubala recently signed a new contract with Lincoln after initially being overlooked for the role.
Skubala, named League One Manager of the Season after leading Lincoln to the second tier for the first time in 65 years, has a strong relationship with Bristol City's newly appointed sporting director James Ellis, having worked together in the Great Britain Universities setup.
Their pursuit accelerated after Elphick, 38, decided against the move on Wednesday despite positive talks. The former Brighton and Aston Villa defender is said to be evaluating his options following Marco Rose's appointment as Bournemouth head coach.
Bristol City, who finished 12th in the Championship this season, have been without a permanent manager since Gerhard Struber was sacked in March.