Leading candidate Tiernan Lynch says Derry City has potential to be 'biggest club on island of Ireland'

The 44 year-old Larne boss, who has won back-to-back Irish Premiership titles with the Inver Park club, has emerged as a clear frontrunner for the managerial post at Brandywell, vacated by Ruaidhri Higgins last weekend.

It's understood negotiations between Derry City and Larne are at an advanced stage and while compensation is yet to be agreed, an announcement is expected within the next 24 hours.

When contacted by the 'Journal' this afternoon Lynch refused to rule out a move to Foyleside admitting any manager with ambition would be interested in leading the 2024 FAI Cup Finalists.

Despite the mounting speculation, Lynch - who turned down the chance to take over at Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone recently- insists he's fully focussed on preparing for Larne's BetMcLean League Cup last 16 clash with Derry City's neighbours, Institute at Brandywell tomorrow night.

"Right now I'm the manager of Larne Football Club and I have a game to prepare for tomorrow night," said Lynch. "That's pretty much where I'm at. At this stage I've nothing to tell anybody."

It's understood there were between 50 and 60 applications for the job which have come from far and wide but there are two leading candidates who are both currently employed by their respective clubs.

While Lynch was giving little away when pressed on his interest in the vacant post, he did admit being manager of a club the stature of Derry City would be an attractive prospect for any ambitious manager.

"It has the potential to be the biggest club in the island of Ireland," said Lynch who was an interested spectator at Richmond Park last month when Derry lost to St Patrick's Athletic in the penultimate league clash of the season which signalled the end of the club's title charge.

"So I think any manager who has ambition, if they told you that wasn't something of interest they'd be telling you lies."

Meanwhile another high profile manager linked with the post, former Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough insists the Derry vacancy 'isn't a runner' with the Englishman revealing he has had 'no contact' with the club.

"I've had no contact so I can't comment on it. At the moment, as far as I'm concerned, it's not going to be a runner but in football you never know what happens. That's the interesting thing."

Derry City Chief Executive Sean Barrett claims there has been two leading candidates and is expecting a breakthrough in negotiations within the next 24 or 48 hours.

"I'm talking to people and expect answers within the next 24 hours. I'm in negotiations at the moment. We have two candidates in the running. We weren't expecting this to happen as we were expecting Ruaidhri to stay on and so things have really unravelled in the last couple of days.”