PETER Reid has emerged as a surprise candidate to replace Chris Wilder at Northampton Town.

The Cobblers, who have just earned promotion to League One, have allowed Wilder and his assistant Alan Knill to speak with Charlton Athletic and an appointment at The Valley is imminent.

Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas has reluctantly accepted he will lose the former Bury pair and has now started the search for a replacement.

The Bolton News has learned Reid is one of the names which has been discussed and the 59-year-old could make the move to Sixfields, bringing with him the wealth of experience Wanderers have tapped into since he returned to the club in March.

That would complete a remarkable merry-go-round as Wilder was one of the first names sussed out by Bolton. He quickly made it known he did not want to be considered to replace Neil Lennon at the Macron Stadium and the club moved on to other targets.

Though Charlton have experienced no end of problems between their fans and owner Roland Duchatelet, the Belgian millionaire is offering an attractive playing budget next season.

Wilder was known to have reservations about the situation he would inherit at Bolton, where concerns over the financial state of the club persist.

Sources in south London also claim Chris Powell – another former Addicks manager – was sounded out about the Bolton job, but declined an interview.

Reid was hired as a “football advisor” in March after Jimmy Phillips was made interim manager of the team and has helped add an air of organisation to the team, albeit without a positive effect on results.

He would like to stay on at Wanderers in some capacity, however, and one of the options which has been discussed is working alongside a younger manager such as ex-skipper Kevin Nolan.

Meanwhile, former Wanderers striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is celebrating being called up to the Iceland squad for this summer’s Euro Championship in France at the age of 37.

Forced to move to China for first-team football after the offer of an extended deal at Wanderers was revoked last summer, Gudjohnsen has now returned to Europe with Norwegian club Molde, managed by former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He made his return to the international fold shortly after returning for his second spell at Bolton, scoring against Kazakhstan 18 months after his previous cap.