Billy Davies faces the sack at rock-bottom Derby - as Rams officials start the hunt for the manager's replacement behind his back.
Davies' 15-month spell at Pride Park may end within days following shocking results, poor signings and a simmering atmosphere within the corridors of power.
The fiery Scot has clashed with chairman Peter Gadsby and new chief executive Trevor Birch and has fumed for months about the lack of cash to be spent on new players, according to a report in the Daily Mirror.
Davies has missed out on several players this summer, including strikers David Nugent and Kenwayne Jones because the Rams balked at paying inflated wages.
The Mirror claim that Davies erupted in a meeting last week and says managers were sounded out about the job in the past few days, without the manager's knowledge.