Mick McCarthy at Bolton for job talks

McCarthy will travel to the north-west for a meeting with Bolton directors as they look to make a quick appointment following the sacking of Owen Coyle on Tuesday.

Reports had suggested the 53-year-old had been overlooked in the race to succeed his one-time ex-Ireland team-mate Coyle as Bolton were looking for a younger man, with Molde boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, 39, said to be in the running.

But sources say the former Millwall, Sunderland and Ireland boss is being lined up by Trotters chiefs to return to the game, which would mean he is set for a speedy return to Molineux as Bolton are the next visitors to Molineux on Tuesday, October 23.

Part of the discussions will include whether he can take his long-time lieutenant Terry Connor with him.

Connor, who served Wolves in a variety of roles including first-team coach, assistant manager to McCarthy and manager, was sacked by boss Stale Solbakken in early September after 13 years' service.

And any moves to appoint McCarthy would leave Wolves concerned at the prospect of their former manager enticing his old backroom staff.

Wolves chief scout Dave Bowman and European scout Ian 'Taff' Evans stayed on at Molineux after McCarthy's departure but have worked with the former defender at every place he has managed and known him for 30 years, since he was a player at Barnsley.

McCarthy appointed fitness coach Tony Daley, goalkeeping coach Pat Mountain and development coach Steve Weaver in his near six-year spell in charge.

McCarthy has been out of work since being sacked by Wolves on February 13 after the 5-1 defeat by Albion. He was close to taking the Nottingham Forest job in the summer but opted out because it is understood he feared interference from the board, although he later claimed he was holding out for a Premier League role.