EBBW Vale hope to be able to finalise the successor to Alex Codling next week and his right-hand man at Eugene Cross Park is emerging as an early front-runner.

Assistant Pat Horgan arrived from Neath in the summer and has made quite an impact, playing a pivotal role in their climb to the head of the Premiership table both as coach and player. But he intends hanging up his boots at the end of the season.

There are a couple of possibilities for who can fill the hotseat vacated by Codling, who is leaving at the end of the season to become director of sport at Trinity School in Croydon, but the one of promoting Horgan is one that is capturing the eye.

Chairman Marcus Russell said: "Alex (Codling) is a big act to follow and we intend to do just that and follow him with a big act.

"There are a couple of really exciting options to explore but I can't stress enough that we are extremely receptive to the idea of Pat Horgan stepping up to head coach.

"Pat is a very intelligent guy and has done a great job, we rate him very highly. He is one of the brightest young coaches in Wales and has proved that during his time at the club.

"We expect to nail everything down next week. Not much can develop before Saturday, but whatever happens will be good for Ebbw Vale."

Russell is delighted that Codling has been given the chance to continue to develop as a coach closer to his London home and believes he can leave with a great deal of pride at what he has achieved.

"It's a very positive situation and we are delighted to see him going where he is going," said Russell. "We wish Alex all the best and we know that he will be a fantastic asset for them.

"Although it's sad to see him leave, it is a great opportunity for him and one where he won't have the travel demands that he had here. Now everyone is focused on enjoying the next six league games and the cup. The players are aware of what is happening, are very confident in the set up at Ebbw Vale and it's very calm at the moment "I know it's a cliche, though when you are doing well they seem to make more sense, but we are just looking to take one game at a time. We have got ourselves into a position in the table where that's all we need to do, we don't have to look further than the game in front of us."