FourFourTwo understands Merrick has won the race to take control of the Jets over Socceroos assistant coach Ante Milicic. Newcastle have been on the hunt for a new manager since the sacking of Mark Jones.

Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna confirmed that an announcement will be made publicly tomorrow, but declined to confirm that Merrick had got the job.

Merrick won two championships and two premierships at Melbourne Victory and was named A-League coach of the year in 2007 and 2010. But the Scotsman was sacked from Victory in March 2011 and had a mixed spell with Wellington.

Merrick had three and half years with the Phoenix but resigned in December with the club struggling. Wellington finished ninth in 2014, fourth in 2015 and ninth in 2016 under the 64-year old.

It is believed Milicic was a strong contender for the Jets job but wanted to bring in his own backroom staff. A number of coaches were linked to the position including Josep Gombau, Aurelio Vidmar, Mark Rudan, Steve Kean, Mike Mulvey, Harry Kewell and Robbie Fowler.

FourFourTwo understands that Olyroos coach Gombau was not interested in the position while inexperience counted against the likes of Kewell and Fowler.