The Championship side are said to have signed off on the move with just the finer points to be ironed out before McCormack is unveiled in Gosford next week, according to the Daily Mail.

McCormack was last seen in Australia on loan to Melbourne City where he was an injury replacement for Bruno Fornaroli last season.

The 32 year old Scot put in a blistering shift while in the A-League, scoring 14 goals from 16 games – but was allowed to leave in January as soon as Fornaroli was fit again.

He returned to Villa to try to fight for his place in the team...but hasn't even been issued with a squad number this season after falling out with Villa manager Steve Bruce over his fitness and training schedule.

He was even dropped by City for one game last November after he was said to have been "exceptionally late for training".

City have since signed McCormack's Villa team-mate Ritchie de Laet on loan as a marquee star for this season.

Now though the Mariners are close to announcing the deal to bring McCormack back to Australia and bolster their side as they aim to avoid back to back wooden spoons.

The club has been mired in controversy over the decision to bring in world record 100m sprint superstar Usain Bolt on trial.

But the addition of McCormack would add genuine quality to the yellow and navy attack.

He signed for Villa from Fulham for $20m just two years ago, fresh from an $18m deal that saw him move from Leeds United to Fulham in 2014.

He scored 38 goals in 89 games for the Cottagers after 53 goals in 144 games for the Whites over four seasons.