 Brian Flynn has impressed as coach of the Wales Under-21 squad
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Brian Flynn is emerging as the strong favourite to take over as Wales' caretaker manager for their next two Euro 2012 qualifiers next month.
Wales' youth guru has been in talks with Football Association of Wales chiefs and it is thought he will be offered the temporary Wales post.
The FAW ultimately wants a permanent successor to John Toshack who departed after their opening qualifying defeat.
The Welsh FA are expected to make an announcement on the position on Monday.
The FAW insist they have not appointed a replacement for Toshack, whether on a part or full-time basis, as their chief executive Jonathan Ford is in Athens for a Uefa Congress meeting.
But Flynn seems to be their chosen candidate to take the Welsh reigns for the qualifiers against Bulgaria in Cardiff on 8 October and in Switzerland on 12 October.
The Welsh FA will then have five months to decide whether to confirm Flynn permanently in the post - assuming he wants the job full-time - or appoint someone else.
The 54-year-old, who will meet up with his Wales under-19 squad on Saturday ahead of Tuesday's friendly in Liechtenstein, would be a popular and hugely-respected choice among fans and players.
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BRIAN FLYNN
Born: 12 October, 1955 in Port Talbot
Position: Midfielder
Clubs managed: Wrexham, Swansea City
Clubs played for: Burnley, Leeds United, Burnley, Cardiff City, Doncaster Rovers, Bury, Doncaster Rovers, Wrexham
Wales honours: 66 caps (7 goals)
Did you know? Flynn's 12 years at Wrexham makes him one of the longest serving managers in recent history
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Flynn has unearthed and developed the youngsters that former captain Gary Speed has hailed as "the most talented team for 10 years."
And now the former Swansea City and Wrexham manager is the favourite to follow his protégés Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Collison etc into Wales' senior set-up.
Toshack, who stood down after Wales disappointing opening Euro 2012 qualifying defeat in Montenegro last Friday, appointed Flynn six years ago with the brief of supplementing the senior squad with young talent to replace ageing internationals.
Flynn applied and was interviewed for the Wales manager's job - the third time he has been interviewed for the Wales post - that Toshack got when Mark Hughes left to manage in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers in 2004.
Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, Stoke City boss Tony Pulis, Millwall manager Kenny Jackett and new Sheffield United chief Gary Speed have all been ruled out of replacing Toshack.
Former Wales striker John Hartson, who has the Uefa Pro licence badges despite having now managerial experience, has revealed he has applied for the job.
Former Fulham manager and Wales defender Chris Coleman has also declared an interest in the post while Wrexham boss and former Wales striker Dean Saunders, a coach under Toshack, refuses to talk about the vacant Wales managerial position.
But respected coach Flynn, the former Leeds and Burnley midfielder who won 66 Wales caps between 1975 and 1984, is favourite to get his dream job.
Flynn starred the last time Wales qualified for a major finals when the Welsh reached the 1976 European Championships quarter-finals, losing over two legs to Yugoslavia.
He managed Wrexham for 12 years and inspired the Welsh club to one of the greatest FA Cup shocks in history as Wrexham beat reigning league champions Arsenal 2-1 in the third round in January 1992.
Flynn guided Wrexham to Division Two promotion and to the FA Cup quarter finals in 1997 - parting company in October 2001.
Flynn was unveiled Swansea City manager in September 2002 and guided them from a struggling side - ensuring league survival in the final day of the season - and helped them to safety before leaving midway through the 2003-04 season.
Toshack appointed Flynn as Welsh youth guru in December 2004 and he transformed a Wales under-21 side that failed to win a game in 26 attempts between March 1997 and October 2002.
Flynn's youngsters narrowly missed out on the 2009 European Under-21 Championships - narrowly losing to eventual runners-up England in a two-legged play-off.
And despite topping their pool for virtually the whole of the campaign, Wales' under-21 side narrowly missed out on a play-off place for the 2011 Championships after a 1-0 defeat in Italy on Tuesday.
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