TOLL GATE, Clarendon — The Jamaica Observer understands that former Reggae Boy Paul Young is tipped to land the vacant coaching job at Sporting Central Academy.

The Clarendon-based Red Stripe Premier League side is without a coach after Nigel Stewart was sacked just over a week ago.

Vassell Reynolds, the club’s technical advisor, is currently guiding the team on an interim basis, but the Observer was reliably informed that Young, 44, will be the man to lead the side on a long-term basis.

Negotiations between Sporting and the former August Town, Waterhouse and Portmore United coach is said to be at an advanced stage, with both parties supposedly keen to ink a deal.

However, with Young currently living in the United States, his appointment might not be made official until January.

The other names being linked to the job are Geoffrey Maxwell and Jerome Waite, two coaches who have won the Premier League with Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens, respectively.

Sporting parted company with Stewart, who spent his entire coaching career at the club, following a six-game winless — including five defeats — which saw them slip from first to ninth in the 12-team league.

They are currently three points adrift of joint second place teams Portmore United and Boys’ Town in eighth following last Sunday’s 1-0 victory over the Red Brigade — their first win since October 7.