Hull City are hoping the imminent arrival of a new assistant coach will help to freshen the club up for the second half of the season.
Tigers boss Steve Bruce has been looking for a new right-hand man since the departure of Steve Agnew to Middlesbrough on December 23.
City did manage to pick up six points from the nine on offer since Agnew left, with wins over Sunderland and Everton lifting them to 15th place in the Premier League table.
However, City need to pick up another 20 to stave off the threat of relegation and Bruce believes the arrival of a new voice at the club's Cottingham training ground can help to do that.
He has already admitted speaking to "one or two" candidates.
Former Everton and Manchester United assistant Steve Round was known to have been under consideration but has joined Derby County.
A short-list will be finalised this week in the hope of making an appointment as soon as possible.
Whilst coaches Keith Bertschin and Stephen Clemence have enjoyed greater responsibility in the wake of Agnew's departure, Bruce has also been proactive at training.
Having exited the FA Cup with a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday, all of his attention is on this weekend's trip to relegation rivals West Brom.
A trip to West Ham follows the Baggies test, but a 14-day period will then precede the arrival of Newcastle on January 31 and City want a new assistant coach in place to lead training and provide fresh ideas during those two weeks.
The mini-backroom shake-up is the second to affect the club this season, following the departure of analyst Laurence Stewart, who joined Manchester City as their Head of Performance Analysis in summer.
City have since promoted his number two, Dean Hughes, and brought in a new analyst.
They now believe they can effect a positive change on the field by appointing an assistant who will bring the best out of what is arguably their best-ever squad.
