Newcastle Knights great Steve Simpson has endorsed Rick Stone as being up to the job of taking over from super coach Wayne Bennett.
Currently assistant coach, Stone is expected to be announced as Bennett's replacement by the end of the week, with the Knights board meeting on Thursday to appoint a successor.
A sub-committee including Knights chief executive Matt Gidley and chairman Paul Harragon has recommended to the board that the club appoint a coach with top-flight experience.
Penrith assistant coach Garth Brennan, who was considered Stone's main rival for the job, dropped out of the race this week after deciding to stay at the foot of the mountains.
Brennan, who has guided the Panthers reserve grade side to this year's NSW Cup minor premiership, said he was swayed after a heart-to-heart with Penrith general manager Phil Gould.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Stone served as assistant coach to Michael Hagan and Brian Smith when he first joined the club.
He was promoted to head coach midway through 2009 after Smith was sacked, but stepped back down upon Bennett's arrival in 2012.
Former Newcastle premiership winner Simpson played under Stone in his first stint as head coach in 2009 and 2010.
The NSW and Australian forward said he was unsure of who was the best candidate for the position but described Stone as being up to the job of coaching an NRL team.
"He's a good man and I think he brought some good bits and pieces to the club," he said on Wednesday.
"It was a fair while ago now.
"But if he's the best person for the job they should give it to him."
Simpson said the sooner the board elect Bennett's replacement the better as the club seeks to attract talent for next year.
Stone earlier this week told Fairfax he believed he had served his apprenticeship and was ready to resume a head coaching career.
On Sunday, Newcastle great Matthew Johns told his Triple M radio show that his brother and league legend Andrew Johns had been approached about a possible assistant coaching role.
