PETER Reid is being lined up for talks with Sheffield Wednesday.
The former Sunderland boss is on the list of the Hillsborough board to replace Terry Yorath.
However, Hartlepool's Chris Turner remains on the wanted list and if - as expected - Reid's personal demands cannot be met by the financially-embarrassed club, it looks like a straight fight between Turner and Dave Bassett.
Turner yesterday admitted he was 'flattered' to be among the runners and added: "It's flattering for Hartlepool to have their manager linked with jobs - and it is for me personally as well.
"I expected to be linked, just like I was with the Sunderland job - it shows how far we have progressed as a club.
"I cannot say anything about the job because there is nothing to say.
"Everybody is putting me in with every job going - the only job I've not been linked with is Darlington!
"Sheffield Wednesday haven't got a manager so people are being linked all over the place. It's my former club as well, so I'm one of them.
"When the players pick up the papers and see their manager might be off it could give them a little bit of unrest, but until something happens we will get on with the job here.''
Wednesday chairman Geoff Hulley said: "Our managerial appointment must be the start of a new beginning and we will be taking the utmost care to make sure we have the right man.
"In selecting the right person, we must also take into account relevant factors such as experience, desire, professional conduct and financial requirements.''
Pool, meanwhile, saw their lead at the top of the table cut to four points on Saturday. The 0-0 draw with York on Friday - Pool's first goalless in 23 games - put them six points clear, but Bournemouth's win over Bristol Rovers on Saturday pegged them back.
Hartlepool-born Steve Fletcher netted the winner for the second home game in a row for the Cherries.
Turner, though, was satisfied with the performance on Friday and saluted the fans after almost 6,000 turned out in atrocious conditions. "What a fantastic crowd we had. It was a horrible night and I really appreciate it.
"When I first came here I said we could attract over 5,000 every week and people laughed - now look at our average attendance.
"I said last week that these players deserve to be playing in front of a big crowd and now they are.
"It was a good game played in good spirits. I don't like to see players being sent off, but how could their keeper stay on the pitch when he picked the ball up outside the penalty box?"
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article