Coleman Sociedad talks

Coleman has been recommended by Wales boss and former Sociedad manager John Toshack, who rejected the chance to return to the Basque club as sporting director.

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Coleman: Spain test?

Toshack turned down the role due to his commitment as manager of Wales, but remains a respected figure at Sociedad — having managed them on three occasions — and has given club directors a glowing report on his countryman Coleman.

Since being sacked last season by Fulham, Coleman has been linked with a number of posts in England, including Manchester City and Crystal Palace.

However, the former Swansea City, Palace, Blackburn and Fulham defender has spoken in the past about his desire to buck the trend of foreign managers flooding into the English game by testing himself abroad.

Reviving Sociedad's fortunes would certainly provide the 37-year-old with such a test, after the side from San Sebastian slipped into the Spanish second division for the first time in 40 years last season.

Their relegation prompted the resignation of manager Miguel Angel Lotina, who has since taken over at Deportivo La Coruna.

The language barrier would obviously represent a problem to Coleman, who does not speak Spanish.

At least, however, Coleman will not be hampered by the club's former policy of only signing players with Basque heritage.

That stance was abandoned in 1989 with the capture of John Aldridge from Liverpool.

Aldridge went on to score 32 goals in 63 games for Sociedad, who have also had Englishmen Dalian Atkinson and Kevin Richardson in their ranks.

Should Coleman decide to follow the likes of Sir Bobby Robson, Terry Venables, Howard Kendall and Ron Atkinson by moving to Spain, he is likely to be joined in San Sebastian by Toshack's Wales assistant and former Sociedad boss Salva Iriarte, who has been lined up to take over as sporting director.

A decision on Coleman's appointment is likely to be taken this Saturday at a meeting of the board of directors.