Former Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle will be appointed as Wigan's new boss on a 12-month rolling contract.
The 46-year-old Scot will succeed Roberto Martinez at the DW Stadium, after the Spaniard joined Everton.
Coyle managed Bolton between 2010 and 2012, before being sacked five months after being relegated from the Premier League.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, 76, has confirmed to BBC sport a deal in principle has been agreed.
Wigan were relegated into the Championship last season but May's FA Cup win sees them in the Europa League.
"I have agreed a deal in principle with Owen and his agent is now with our chief executive to finalise the deal," Whelan told BBC Sport . "But as far as I'm concerned, we have sorted it and I hope the rest will be sorted in the next hour.
"I've told him returning to the Premier League is the total and utter priority. It's fantastic that we are in Europe but that comes second and he knows that the Premier League is where we have to be.
"It's been no easy task but Owen has shown enthusiasm and passion from the moment I met him. He's been there and done it with Burnley.
"He wasn't so successful at Bolton but he had a lot of injuries and bad luck. People forget that. You need luck on times but he's certainly got the passion, energy and enthusiasm I was looking for."
Whelan also confirmed Coyle would be appointed on the basis of a 12-month rolling contract.
"When you're in a situation like we are at Wigan and have just been relegated from the Premier League, the amount of money we receive is going to go down," he said.
"So I can't commit to telling a manager I'm going to pay him a certain amount for so many years as we have to be careful. Wigan is a special club and we are run a certain way and I will take no risks."