Cliftonville's hopes of landing one of the their 'top targets' to replace Paddy McLaughlin could be dashed as his current club are preparing to offer him a new deal to stay.
Diarmuid O'Carroll, who won back-to-back league titles with the Reds is believed to top the list to take over the reins at Solitude following McLaughlin's departure.
But prising the 36-year-old away from his current club St Mirren may prove difficult as the Buddies are said to be preparing to offer O'Carroll and boss Stephen Robinson new deals with the club.