There’s strong speculation that Scotland assistant coach Dan McFarland will succeed Jono Gibbes as Ulster head coach at the end of the season.
The province say they’ve agreed a deal to appoint their next coach, and that it’s already been signed off on by the IRFU.
McFarland spent over a decade as a player and assistant coach at Connacht and has also coached the Ireland Under-20 and Wolfhound teams.
He followed Gregor Townsend into the Scotland set-up having worked with him at the Glasgow Warriors for two years.
Ex-Ireland flanker Alan Quinlan says McFarland would arrive in Belfast with a strong reputation
“He’s not your big name. He doesn’t have that big stature in the game worldwide, but, from what I hear, and I’ve heard this from Scottish guys, he’s a really good coach, a good motivator and highly thought of,” said Quinlan.
“Someone like that might work straight away.”
Former New Zealand women’s coach Glenn Moore and ex-Northampton boss Jim Mallinder have also been linked with the position at Kingspan Stadium.