Coppell keen on Pompey hot seat

But he must beat off the challenge of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to land the Fratton Park hot seat.

However, Sean O’Driscoll’s chances are diminishing as the Blues close in on revealing their man within the next 48 hours.

The News understands Coppell is keen on the Pompey vacancy.

Likewise, David Lampitt has been impressed by the CV of a manager who ticks plenty of his boxes in the hunt for a new boss.

The former Reading boss recently announced his intention to return to football following a year’s sabbatical and has been linked with the current Iceland job.

Coppell was sat in the Selhurst Park stands among the fans to watch Tuesday night’s draw with Pompey.

Although a Palace legend, he now rarely attends their matches, that outing representing his first trip of the season.

The possibility of the ex-Manchester United player arriving at Fratton as boss is unquestionably an eye-catching one.

Yet it is Solskjaer who continues to remain the fans’ choice. That would be a move to excite the Fratton faithful, the former Norway striker representing a star name.

The 38-year-old also led Molde to the Norwegian title last weekend.

The News last night contacted Solskjaer’s agent, Jim Solbakken, who refused to discuss the situation.

He said: ‘I don’t give comments. That is all I will be saying.’

However, Solskjaer remains the man many would like to take over from Cotterill.

Meanwhile, O’Driscoll has still to hear back from Pompey – 15 days after his interview.

The ex-Doncaster boss travelled to the London offices of Snoras in Lombard Street on October 19. There he was interviewed by David Lampitt and Roman Dubov.

Just 24 hours earlier he had travelled to Ipswich to watch the team in action, one of several Pompey matches he has taken in since Cotterill’s departure.

However, he is currently still waiting to learn whether he has been successful.

In the meantime, he opted to take in Nottingham Forest’s clash with Reading on Tuesday night, rather than see the Blues at Selhurst Park.

It can be no coincidence Forest are Pompey’s opposition at the weekend.

Although he appears to be an unlikely appointment considering the lack of communication from the club.

Now Coppell has stepped forward to muddy the waters further.

He has been out of the game since August 2010 after surprisingly quitting four months into a Bristol City deal.

At the time he cited a lack of passion for the job and moved out of the footballing limelight.

Yet the 56-year-old has an impressive pedigree, having led Reading into the Championship and twice won the LMA manager of the year (2006 and 2007).

Coppell also took Palace through the play-offs twice into the top flight and reached the FA Cup final in 1990.