Vinny Perth is back in pole position for the Dundalk job after another dramatic day behind the scenes at Oriel Park.
Former Dundalk and Shelbourne player Dave Rogers was poised to be appointed the club's new manager having initially been linked as a No 2 to Jim Magilton.
Rogers is back in Ireland after leaving FC Arizona in America in recent weeks, having coached in India and Liverpool's academies before that.
And he held positive talks with Dundalk chiefs about coming on board for the rest of the season
But events took yet another turn over the afternoon and Perth, who was sacked as Dundalk boss only last August, re-emerged as the front runner for the vacancy.
Magilton is the club's sporting director but has been interim first-team manager since Italian Filippo Giovagnoli stepped away two months ago.
But Magilton has been reluctant to take the job outright and Perth has maintained a good relationship with American chairman Bill Hulsizer despite the chop last summer.
Local Dundalk media outlets were at odds with each other tonight over whether Rogers or Perth would land the job but, barring yet another twist, Perth is poised for a remarkable return.
Dundalk - who lost 3-1 at home to bottom side Waterford on Friday - did not comment on the speculation this evening
But even some club insiders were left confused by the chain of events at a club that has become a soap opera off the pitch this season and last.
Dundalk are in the hat for Tuesday's inaugural Europa Conference League first round draw and the owners are eager to have their next manager in place well before next month's games.
The Lilywhites are seeded and will play Honka Espoo of Finland, Welsh side Newtown, Mosta of Malta, Racing FC from Luxembourg or FC Struga of North Macedonia.
