Reading boss Brian McDermott in Wolves frame

Brian McDermott is the new headline contender for the Molineux job with Wolves today poised to approach Reading for permission to speak to their manager.

But reports that another rising Championship boss, Brighton's Gus Poyet, is also on Wolves' radar have been dismissed by the Premier League club.

Wolves have also denied speculation last night that they were already in talks with McDermott, the 50-year-old successor to Brendan Rodgers who has been carving an impressive reputation for himself since taking over at the Madejski Stadium in December 2009.

• See Brian McDermott's career in pictures

But an interview with the man who led Reading to the Championship play-off final last season and has the club well-placed to challenge again this time around is on the cards – with Wolves receiving indication McDermott would be cleared to discuss the post with them.

It's the first time in the hunt for Mick McCarthy's successor that the name of a manager in-post has emerged.

Chief executive Jez Moxey stuck to his guns on confidentiality today and refused to discuss individuals but he did say: "We have been talking to people in and out of current positions all the time. All our options, including both short-term and long-range, remain open."

McDermott, 50, has not managed in the Premier League before and would clash with Molineux's original 'job spec' which demanded an experienced man wise to the ways of winning Premier League points.

But Wolves have struggled to find a candidate to tick all their boxes and are now willing to extend their search to one of the game's promising young coaches.

See also:

• Steven Fletcher urges Wolves to win this battle for Mick

• Steve Bruce remains in running for Wolves job