The former England Under-21 coach - who left Stevenage Borough earlier this month - met executive director Dennis Wise for talks at a Waltham Abbey hotel on Wednesday.

And the 55-year-old is understood to be tempted by the challenge of overseeing the multi-million pound Academy, which is adjacent to the first-team facility.

Taylor, who worked with Steven Taylor and James Milner during his three-year spell in charge of the Under-21s, would only confirm he had met Wise for talks.

But the Gazette understands the position discussed was that of Academy director, and not a role on manager Kevin Keegan's first-team coaching staff.

He said: "Dennis rang me for a general chat a couple of weeks ago, and then we had a cup of coffee and another talk (on Wednesday)."

Taylor - said to be on a four-man shortlist for the post - was briefly Wise's manager during his time at Leicester City.

He is also understood to have a good relationship with Keegan, who he briefly succeeded as England manager, taking over for one game on a caretaker basis in late 2000.

However, Taylor could also be tempted by another managerial job.

Meanwhile, the implications for Academy manager Joe Joyce are unclear, and he will understandably want to know where he stands.

The Gazette revealed last week that former Newcastle midfielder Alan Thompson - who played under Wise at Leeds United - was being lined up for a coaching role at the Academy.