Manchester United legend Paul Ince is being linked with the Portsmouth job.
The Mirror says the former Blackburn boss met with Pompey's Andrew Andronikou at a central London hotel.
Notts County boss Steve Cotterill has so far been the leading contender along with former Reading and Watford manager Brendan Rodgers.
But it is understood Andronikou contacted Ince last week to instigate talks over the job.
The Pompey administrator travelled up to the capital yesterday for the early evening meeting.
He is understood to have been impressed with the job Ince did in his first spell at MK Dons, gaining promotion and winning the Football League trophy in the same season two years ago.