PHIL Brown could be poised for a dramatic return to Burnden Park as Colin Todd's right hand man.

The highly-respected former captain is understood to be top of a shortlist of candidates as Wanderers seek a replacement for Ian Porterfield, who left the club for "personal reasons" on the eve of the final Premiership game at Arsenal.

But any move for the former fans' favourite will not be welcomed by Blackpool, where Brown has forged a successful partnership with another popular ex-Wanderer, manager Sam Allardyce.

The Seasiders narrowly missed out on automatic promotion from Division Two but they take on Bradford City at Bloomfield Road tomorrow holding a 2-0 lead in the play-off semi-final and are odds-on favourites to reach the May 26 Wembley final.

Todd says no decision has been made and insists he is in no rush to appoint a new chief coach.

He explained: "I have a shortlist and it would be unfair to say whose names are on it."

South Shields-born Brown, who is 39 this month, would be a popular choice. A £17,000 bargain-buy from Halifax in 1988, he is generally accepted as being largely responsible for generating the team spirit which sparked Wanderers' meteoric rise from the lower divisions to the top flight.

He captained Wanderers to Sherpa Van Trophy success at Wembley in his first season and to promotion from the old Division Three to Division One in 1992-93.

He made more than 300 appearances in six successful seasons as a captain former manager Bruce Rioch rated alongside Tony Mowbray and Tony Adams as the best he has ever worked with. But it was Rioch who eventually showed him the door in a surprise move two years ago.

Brown immediately linked up with Allardyce as player-coach on a contract which is due to expire next month.

Burnden striker Nathan Blake has lost his place in the Wales squad for their opening World Cup Group Seven qualifier in San Marino on June 2.

Wanderers will not be pursuing their interest in Dutch midfielder Bjorn Lindenbergh from Volendam, who had a spell on trial with the reserves at the end of the season.

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