After over a year out the game, Eddie Howe finally seems set to jump back onto the football roller-coaster with Newcastle - a job that could be a ticket to the very top or one that takes him back into the Championship.
Having embarrassingly failed to land Unai Emery, Newcastle's new Saudi-backed ownership look to be returning to Howe cap in hand, with the former Bournemouth manager and the rest of the footballing world only too aware he is their second choice.
Should Howe care? Perhaps not. For all the chaos of Newcastle's manager search, the Magpies job should remain a tantalising prospect for a manager, especially a man like Howe.
Manager Eddie Howe appears set to take over as Newcastle boss in the coming days
Newcastle were left humiliated after their public snub from Villarreal manager Unai Emery
The saga was an embarrassment for Newcastle's owners, who have now turned to Howe
Granted, Newcastle have had a dire start to the campaign. They are 19th, already six points from safety after 10 games of the season. There is work, hard work, to do for whoever takes the reins.
But Howe may well look at the players and see roots for recovery, something he can get to work with right away. There are three former Bournemouth men in the Newcastle fold in Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser who are all familiar with his methods.
It is on the training ground where Howe does his best work and his attacking style of play is something Newcastle supporters will promptly warm to. At Bournemouth, he also became known for developing talent via his coaching methods - players such as Nathan Ake and Tyrone Mings are two names who can attest to that.
He will back himself to kick-start Newcastle at once and with a transfer window on the horizon, a vision of leading the club up the table before beginning a proper rebuild in the summer will seem a thrilling prospect for the 43-year-old.
Indeed, building a club is something Howe has immense pedigree for. He orchestrated a stunning surge through the footballing pyramid at Bournemouth, from League Two to the Premier League and even though they had
