Dunfermline directors met Jim Jefferies on Monday to offer him the East End Park manager’s job.
It is hoped a deal can be completed today. Courier Sport understands that a stumbling block is the payments the former Hearts boss is still due from the Tynecastle club after he was sacked in August.
The board have opted for the short-term option to see them through the last eight games of the campaign.
If Jefferies fails to keep them in the SPL, the Pars are likely to turn to a young up-and-coming manager to rebuild the squad in the First Division.
Cowdenbeath’s Colin Cameron would be the first choice, but ex-Dunfermline favourite and Partick Thistle manager Jackie McNamara would also be considered.
Jefferies (61) was removed from his role as Hearts manager three games into the season despite leading the club to a third-place finish in the SPL last year.
Dunfermline, who have not played since a March 3 defeat by Motherwell, sacked Jim McIntyre on Friday. They host St Mirren on Saturday looking for their first home win of the season and bidding to cut a four-point deficit on Hibernian at the foot of the SPL.
Striker Liam Buchanan is one of those wanting to see a quick appointment made.
He said: ”It’s going to be difficult but there’s eight cup finals for us to play and we’re only four points behind Hibs, which is not a massive gap. But we need to start winning games and picking up points.
”Whoever comes in will know they have a difficult task on their hands, but the players will keep working hard and hopefully we will turn things around.
”The sooner someone comes in the better. They will need to prepare us and get us playing how they want us to play in time for Saturday’s game against St Mirren.
”But Gerry McCabe is still working his hardest with us and is preparing us, and he deserves a lot of credit.”