Looks like it is Butcher then - the club have actually had two meetings with him and he is expected back up north tomorrow morning for the press conference in the afternoon - that is unless he changes his mind overnight....
Scotsman - Butcher offered Inverness job
Butcher offered Inverness job, with Malpas his No 2
Date: 27 January 2009
By ALASDAIR FRASER
TERRY Butcher was last night offered the Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager's job and is expected to be confirmed in the post today.
The Highlands club made their choice at a full board meeting yesterday evening after meeting the former Rangers and England captain twice in the last three days.
It is believed Butcher, who pipped former Inverness and Hearts manager John Robertson in the board's estimation, will be handed the role initially until the end of the season only.
It is also understood the 50-year-old made the appointment of Maurice Malpas, his assistant while manager of Motherwell, a condition of his acceptance.
Talks between Butcher and club officials ironed out concerns regarding the candidate's other commitments, namely his part-time role as Scotland assistant manager and well-paid position as pundit for Setanta Sports.
The SPL outfit ? imperilled by a run of eight straight defeats ? were still remaining tight-lipped on developments last night. But it is understood they hope to parade Butcher at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium as early as this afternoon.
Robertson, who managed the club to First Division title success between December 2002 to November 2004 before being lured to Hearts, was still under consideration as late as yesterday evening.
In the unlikely event that Butcher declines the job offer, the Tynecastle goalscoring legend would immediately be back in strong contention.
But interest in former Blackburn assistant manager Archie Knox is thought to have cooled because of his significant contractual ties to the Lancashire club. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton and Argentina and Tottenham legend Ossie Ardiles were widely quoted as contenders to succeed Craig Brewster, who was sacked last week, but neither are thought to have proven persuasive to the board.
Butcher, the former Sunderland, Coventry, Motherwell and Sydney FC manager, is viewed as the kind of motivator and disciplinarian who could galvanise the club, who sit two points adrift in the relegation battle.
Butcher is understood to have travelled north yesterday morning to meet for a second time with Caley Thistle directors. He was initially interviewed in Edinburgh on Saturday morning by Graeme Bennett, the club's director of football, and chairman George Fraser.
Inverness, for their part, have sought assurances regarding Butcher's considerable commitments, but are not expected to demand he abandon either his international involvement or television work. Malpas, who was considered a candidate in his own right only a matter of days ago, would offer a compromise solution whereby Butcher would have solid backing if otherwise occupied.
The club are expected to issue a statement confirming their choice this morning before parading the new manager at the stadium at the earliest opportunity.
The Herald are running a similar story this morning also.... Butcher favoured for Inverness post