Icelandic coach Pall Gudlaugsson is on the verge of signing on the dotted line at struggling First Division outfit Somerset Eagles, can reveal.

Gudlaugsson, who coached the Faroe Islands to an historic draw against Israel in 1992, was sacked by another Division One side, Paget, on the opening day of the 2005-06 season after being involved in long, drawn out argument with Lion?s veteran sweeper Leroy Stevens.

Gudlaugsson?s coaching tenure at Paget lasted less than four months.

The Iceland native also had a stint at Devonshire Colts end prematurely in 2004 after falling out of favour with the club?s current administration.

Late last month Gudlaugsson told : ?I?d be honoured to help them (Eagles) out in any shape or form. I would love to help them out in any way I can.?

Somerset Bridge president Bray Saltus weighed in by stating: ?I think Pall has extremely good references and is definitely a qualified individual who really loves to coach.?

Now, nearly three weeks later, Gudlaugsson is poised to take on a third coaching job on local soil in three years.

?We?ve had many discussions and I think more than likely he?s going to come onboard as an assistant coach,? confirmed Bridge executive, Marc Bean.

Gudlaugsson?s timing, perhaps, might not have been better as Eagles continue to come to grips with a three-game losing skid.

?I?m sure he?ll be able to assist us and he?s already attended a few of our training sessions and reasoned with me,? Bean added. ?It?s just a matter of us co-ordinating and coming onboard as an assistant which is exactly what he is prepared to do for the moment anyway.?

Bean also dispelled rumours the former Iceland Division One coach had been overlooked for the job.

?That?s not true. Pall has come up and held discussions and everything is going along smoothly,? he added.

One major concern Gudlaugsson might inherit is the team?s dismal start to the season after being relegated to the lower echelons at the end of the previous league campaign followed by a mass exodus of players who have since ventured further West to Somerset Trojans.

Eagles got their season off to a flyer via a hard-fought win over Prospect on September 18, but have gone winless since.

But as the philosophical Bean put it: ?There?s hope yet.?

?The reality is that we have a young team and we aren?t playing that good defensively,? he added.

?We are as fit as any other team in the league, but we just have to take our chances and be a bit more patient at times. Some of the players still need to execute the game plan and have the ability to do so, while others need to be a little more humble in their overall approach.

?But it?s a long season and I?m not stressed or about to get all bent out of shape at the moment. It?s just going to take a bit more time and when we do get it right then I think we?ll be difficult opposition for anybody.?

Gudlaugsson will assist Bean and Duval Binns tending to coaching duties at White Hill Field.

?I?ve had very positive meetings with Bray (Saltus) and they do have a structured programme up there,? Gudlaugsson added.