ROTHERHAM UNITED believe they will be able to lure Alan Stubbs from Easter Road if they get permission to speak to Hibernian's Scottish Cup winning manager.
We understand that the former Celtic and Everton player is by some distance the first choice for the Sky Bet Championship club who are expected to contact Leeann Dempster, Hibernian's chief executive, over the weekend.
And while Stubbs and Dempster met on Thursday to lay down plans for next season, the 44-year-old could well be tempted with a move back to English football.
"Alan Stubbs is one of our three favourites for the job but we will do things the right way," said Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart who interviewed the Liverpudlian last October the last time the managerial job at his club became available. "We must first ask Hibs for permission before we speak to Alan directly.
"Since being promoted to the Championship we have twice narrowly avoided relegation but we have learned very little from the experience. We want a manager who can help the club grow and take us up the league."
Rotherham finished fourth bottom of English football's second tier and so are hardly one of the game's more glamorous names.
However, it would be seen as a step-up from the Scottish Championship and they will almost certainly be able to pay Stubbs a far higher wage than he current earns.
Hibernian would seek compensation if Rotherham get their man but it would be a huge blow if they lose the manager who made history against Rangers at Hampden last Saturday.
It is almost inevitable that John McGinn will be sold for the right price to balance the books, while Jason Cummings has been watched by a number of English clubs. The club could do without having to find a new manager.
Dempster will fight to keep Stubbs, who has a year left on his contract, but there is only so much she can offer him given the club will in August embark on their third season out of the Scottish Premiership.
Tony Mowbray, the former Celtic manager, has been spoken to and the current Coventry City boss is set to meet Stewart at the start of next week.
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