Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed, buoyed by the Cottagers' fantastic start to the season, has brought forward Jean Tigana's contract talks from the New Year to the immediate future.
The French manager's three-year deal to mastermind Al Fayed's huge investment in the west London club runs out next summer.
Fulham officials admitted last month that talks over Tigana's future were lined up in January - but that plan has been axed and discussions are now expected to take place well before then.
The Cottagers have enjoyed two and a half sensational months, with just one defeat in 14 games as Tigana's team have claimed a place in the UEFA Cup through the Intertoto Cup, fifth place in the formulative Barclaycard Premiership table and the momentous 1-0 UEFA Cup first-round, first-leg victory against Hajduk Split in Croatia.
Cottagers chief executive Bruce Langham, asked when he hoped to thrash out Tigana's future, said: "We'll certainly sit down and have that conversation with Jean - and quite soon, I suspect.
"The chairman and I are committed to doing what's best for Fulham. And we will do that.
"I went to dinner with Jean the other day and he is excited, enthused and totally engaged. He's very happy at Fulham - and no wonder as the team's great.
"He's very pleased with the additions to his squad in the summer, which have paid off big time. So he can see all his hard work coming to fruition."
Langham's upbeat assessment of Tigana's mood is another shot in the arm for Fulham fans, who must be rubbing their eyes with disbelief as their team goes from strength to strength.