Former New South Wales Blues five-eigth Matthew Johns believes Dean Pay is next in line to coach the Blues if current mentor Laurie Daley decides to take a position at an NRL club.

Speaking on Triple M on Thursday morning, Johns said the whispers were getting louder that Daley is ready to take on a new position.

“I think [Laurie] has done a fantastic job – ushering this next generation through,” Johns said.

“Talk is he’s received offers from (NRL) clubland.”

Johns believes Pay, not Brad Fittler or Geoff Toovey, was the best man for the job.