Bristol Rovers are set to face a Swansea City side without a manager for Saturday's pre-season friendly at the Mem, as crowds return to the north Bristol ground.
According to multiple reports, including Wales Online, Cooper's contract is close to being terminated by mutual consent and an announcement is due before the end of the week.
The 41-year-old has enjoyed a successful two-season spell in south Wales, twice reaching the play-offs in spite of significant budget cuts across the playing squad following their relegation from the Premier League.
Swansea lost the Championship play-off final to Brentford in May and further restrictions have been placed on Cooper in terms of the business he's been able to do this summer.
He had been shortlisted for the vacancies at Fulham and Crystal Palace but both London clubs ultimately pursued other candidates and Cooper's time at the Liberty Stadium appears to have run its course.
Cooper is in the final year of his contract and will take a break from the game, rather than look for an immediate other opportunity. Swansea are reportedly confident of appointing a successor in time for their Championship opener against Blackburn Rovers on August 7.
If Cooper leaves before Saturday's friendly at the Mem, in which Rovers will welcome fans back to BS7 for the first time since March 2020, and a successor isn't immediately appointed then first-team coaches Alan Tate and Mike Marsh are likely to take charge of the team.
Barton is confident midfielder Paul Coutts will have his first run out for the Gas having missed Rovers' previous two friendlies after a positive Covid-19 test before he returned to pre-season training.
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