Stoke City's board are split over choice of successor to Tony Pulis.
The Mirror says there are huge differences of opinion over who the new boss should be.
John Coates, son of Stoke chairman Peter, is likely to get the casting vote as he is expected to take over the running of the club in the future.
Free agent Mark Hughes, Wigan's Roberto Martinez, Cardiff's Malky Mackay, Gus Poyet of Brighton and Arsenal assistant manager Steve Bould have all been discussed, but a clear front runner is yet to emerge.
Chief executive Tony Scholes, the club's technical director Mark Cartwright and head of finance Martin Goodman are thought to be pushing the case of Hughes, even though he was sacked in November by QPR, who went on to suffer relegation from the Premier League.
Bould is admired by those involved in the decision-making process, but Peter Coates is believed to be wary of going for somebody with no full management experience.
