Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is set to be unveiled tomorrow as Sunderland's new boss as the Black Cats attempt to salvage something from a nightmare season.
McCarthy had hoped to persuade Niall Quinn to join him as his assistant, but the former Sunderland striker has ruled himself out of a return to the club because he wants to move to Ireland and concentrate on a career in the media.
McCarthy is expected to be officially confirmed at a 10 a.m. press conference tomorrow and will replace Howard Wilkinson and Steve Cotterill, who were sacked by the club last night.
McCarthy will finally get the job which might have been his back in October, when Sunderland chairman Bob Murray instead made the surprise decision to appoint Wilkinson and Cotterill to succeed Peter Reid.
At that time, the 44-year-old was in the process of winding up his tenure as Ireland coach and Sunderland seemed the ideal escape route.
However, the Football Association of Ireland were believed to have been asking for a large compensation package and the club opted for the FA's technical director instead.
McCarthy wanted former Republic striker Quinn, one of Sunderland's favourite sons, as his assistant but his number two is now likely to be Ian Evans, who was his deputy when he was in charge of the Republic.
McCarthy will look to make the most of the Irish connection at the club.
Jason McAteer and Kevin Kilbane played for him at last summer's World Cup finals while Phil Babb also featured in some of his squads.
Sunderland also have a large number of Irish youngsters, including Thomas Butler and Sean Thornton, who have broken into the first team, plus the promising Cliff Byrne and Richie Ryan.
McCarthy, who has been out of work since resigning last November, will need to work a miracle - and work it quickly - if Sunderland are to avoid relegation, but his appointment would be long-term rather than just a quick fix.
Sunderland are bottom of the Premiership with just 19 points. However, with a further 27 up for grabs McCarthy will hope he can pull off an amazing escape act, especially as four of his new team's next five matches are against fellow strugglers Bolton, West Ham, Birmingham and West Brom.