With Sydney FC opting for Ian Crook as their new coach all that remains now is for West Sydney to tie up their new gaffer ahead of season eight of the A-League.

With a number of names bandied about – including Mike Mulvey, Miron Bleiberg, Ante Milicic and Peter Tsekenis – Popovic’s name is the one that’s resonated most with media and fans.

The highly rated Crystal Palace first team coach is still wanted by the London club but sources say he’s “torn” between the two clubs in a choice said to be “agonising” for him.

It would’ve been a sleepless weekend for the former Sydney FC assistant manager who left in 2011 to take a first team coach position with Palace, a club where he made 123 appearances during his long and illustrious playing career that also includes the 2006 World Cup.

Palace rate the 58-times capped former Socceroo highly and would be seeking compensation if h should opt for the job of inaugural head coach at West Sydney.

Recently Popovic, a former J-League player who played almost 100 times for Hiroshima Sanfrecce, was a guest of his former J-League club taking in their facilities and training sessions.

The West Sydney-born 38-year-old also watched from the stands as Brisbane Roar took on FC Tokyo in the Asian Champions League in Tokyo on May 2.

Popovic retired from playing in 2008 after a stellar career in Australia, Japan and Qatar and is best known for his six seasons at Palace from 2001, where he also captained the club.