Leeds United manager Javi Gracia will be in 'prime position' to get the job long-term if he keeps his team up this season, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
The Lowdown: Gracia doing well early on
The Spaniard was appointed the Whites' new boss last month, coming in to replace the departed Jesse Marsch, who struggled in the role as the months passed.
Gracia won his first Premier League match in charge of Leeds last weekend - a massive three points in a relegation clash with Southampton - suggesting that he is the right man for the job.
The 52-year-old is only on a rolling contract, however, and there is no guarantee that he will be at Elland Road beyond the end of this season.
The Latest: Journo backs Spaniard for job
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs said Gracia will be the front-runner to be Leeds boss after the summer, as long as he steers them away from relegation:
"With Gracia, it's a flexible contract and you can understand why because Leeds will want to assess at the end of the season. Obviously, if they stay up, then he's in prime position to get the job.
"But, by the same token, there may be managers out there that Leeds know didn't want to come mid-season that are prepared to join at the end of the season.
"Because Gracia was not the No.1 choice for Leeds United, there will be a sense that assessing at the end of the season and seeing who is out there in the market might kind of be wise."
The Verdict: Feels the most likely outcome
Leeds desperately need some stability at this point, especially with ownership rumours ongoing off the pitch, so the hope is that Gracia is the man to take the club forward.
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The early signs are promising, even though not every result has been positive - the Whites were knocked out of the FA Cup by Fulham in midweek - and he has Premier League experience, managing over 57 times in the competition overall.
Relegation would certainly change the situation, with Gracia unlikely to want to be in the Championship, but the hope is that relegation is avoided and he is deemed the best option, having been hailed as 'incredible' by Pep Guardiola in the past.