The Rangers chairman David Murray has a shortlist of three with Advocaat's name at the top, says the Daily Record.
The paper says Murray has had a series of high-powered meetings and conducted phone calls from his £4 million home in the Channel Isles as part of his search for a coach to replace Smith.
Murray, who is keeping the other two names on his shortlist secret, also used his Lear jet for a trip to Europe and to ferry applicants to Jersey.
Advocaat is out of contract with PSV Eindhoven in the summer and sees Rangers, where Smith is stepping out of the spotlight at the end of the season, as a suitable destination.
But all applicants have been warned that success on the domestic front will not be enough to keep them in a job.
Murray expects whoever gets the three-year contract worth at least £1 million, to win three league titles.
Success will be judged in Europe where Rangers have always failed to qualify from the European Champions League group matches despite dominating the Scottish game.
Smith tells of his Ibrox 'anti-climax'
(28 Oct 97 | Sport)
Rangers
PSV Eindhoven
Daily Record
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