FORMER Wrexham midfield general Gareth Owen could be about to take his first steps into football management.
The 33-year-old former Wales under-21 international has been captaining Connah's Quay Nomads in the Welsh Premier League.
And he seems set to cross to Flint-shire rivals Airbus UK to take over the reins from caretaker boss Garry
Wynne, who helped the Wingmakers to survival in their debut season of the top flight of Welsh football.
Airbus say Owen is the number one choice for the job.
A club spokesman said: 'We can confirm Gareth Owen is the man we want as player-manager, with Alan Bickerstaffe assisting him.
'We've taken our time but now we feel Gareth is the one to take us forward and try and build on what we achieved last season. And, as a fine midfield player, we also feel he will be a great help on the field, too.'
Owen joined hometown club Nomads in the summer of 2003, making 62 league appearances and scoring 10 times in two seasons. He left Wrexham in 2001 after 11 years with the club.
The Quay's long-serving boss Nev Powell, who brought the play-maker to the Deeside Stadium, said: 'I'd be obviously disappointed to lose Gareth but that's football.
'He's out of contract and this could be a big opportunity for him.'
