PHIL Brown is a step closer to ending his 17-year association with Bolton Wanderers after having a second interview for the vacant Derby County manager's job.

Sam Allardyce's number two has emerged as the clear favouite to succeed George Burley at Pride Park, although neither Wanderers nor Derby are making any comment.

Gary Johnson, the highly-rated manager of Yeovil Town, has also been linked with the Rams' job but 46-year-old Brown is understood to have made a big impression in his talks with the Championship club and could be on the verge of securing his first management role.

Wanderers boss, Sam Allardyce, and chairman, Phil Gartside, are believed to have given him impressive references.

Highly-qualified and highly respected, Brown has served his apprenticeship over the last decade on the coaching and management side of the game and was close to landing the Burnley job last summer before the Clarets appointed Steve Cotterill.

Having helped Allardyce steer Wanderers to Premiership success and European qualification, leaving the Reebok would be a wrench for a man with such strong emotional ties.

But the chance to manage a club of Derby's calibre - they reached the play-offs last season before losing to Preston in the semi-finals - is one he could not pass up, although he is refusing to comment on his future.

With first team coach Neil McDonald understood to have agreed to join Crystal Palace as Iain Dowie's number two, Allardyce is facing the prospect of losing the two most qualified members of his backroom staff.

His former Bolton team-mate and close friend, Peter Reid, has been touted as one possible replacement, if Brown moves on.