Steve Cotterill is emerging as favourite for the Portsmouth job.

The Sunday Mirror says Cotterill's brief tenure at Notts County is likely to come to an end and he will accept the challenge of ­rebuilding the relegated club currently embroiled in a cash crisis.

The 45-year-old boss returned to football management after two years in the wilderness by guiding County to the League Two title just two months after taking charge.

Cotterill has already turned down one Championship club in the last 10 days, rejecting an approach from Coventry.

He said: "It is ­flattering to be linked with other jobs but I'm level headed."