Inverness boss Butcher is to meet with the Oakwell outfit this week as they look to appoint a new manager following last month’s sacking of Keith Hill.

IPSWICH Town legend Terry Butcher could be on his way back to Portman Road - if he takes the vacant manager’s job at Barnsley.

If Butcher takes the job, his first game could well be at Portman Road when rock-bottom Barnsley visit on January 19.

Barnsley received permission yesterday from Inverness to approach former England skipper Butcher, 54, and hope to thrash out a deal that would see him swap the top two of the Scottish Premier League for a relegation scrap in English football’s second tier.

Barnsley director Don Rowing said: “We’ve sought permission to speak with Terry Butcher and Inverness have agreed, so we expect to meet with him within the next 48 hours about the first-team manager’s vacancy.”

Butcher, in charge of Inverness since replacing Craig Brewster in January 2009, has guided them up to second place behind Celtic in the SPL table, while the club play Hearts in the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup later this month.

Inverness have only lost against Motherwell and Celtic this season, are still in the William Hill Scottish Cup and are top scorers in SPL so far with 44 goals.

Inverness chairman Kenny Cameron said in a statement: “We have given Barnsley FC permission to speak to Terry.

“Given our current position in the SPL and the fact we have a cup semi-final on the horizon, it is inevitable that if any managerial positions come up our management team will no doubt be on the radar.

“We will be doing everything possible to ensure that Terry remains with the club and finishes what has been an incredible journey to date for us all.”