INVERNESS today revealed negotiations with Terry Butcher are �ongoing� following reports the former England captain has been offered the manager�s job.

INVERNESS today revealed negotiations with Terry Butcher are "ongoing" following reports the former England captain has been offered the manager's job.

Butcher, 50, is the number one choice to replace Craig Brewster at the Highland club and has already held talks with them.

He is set to travel from London to Inverness to conclude negotiations on what is reportedly a 18-month contract.

Caley Thistle director of football Graeme Bennett said today: "Terry Butcher's not in Inverness at the moment - he's in London. But he's coming back up. Negotiations are ongoing."

Scotland No.2 Butcher is expected to keep his job with national boss George Burley and has already ring-fenced Maurice Malpas as his assistant manager after the pair worked together at Motherwell.

The former England captain has been looking to return to full-time football for some time now after returning from Australia where he managed Sydney FC.

It's still unclear whether Butcher would be allowed to continue working as a pundit for Setanta. He still has 18 months of his current contract to run.

But the lure of getting back on to the training field every day and working with players again is one that excites Butcher.

Caley, who axed Craig Brewster with the team rooted at the foot of the SPL table and showing no signs of moving, interviewed a number of candidates.

It's also believed John Robertson, who was manager at the Caledonian Stadium previously, was also close to returning to the club.

If there are any last- minute problems in securing Butcher then Caley will once again turn to him.

Other names, such as ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton and Ossie Ardiles, were never in the frame.