It's understood that the very well-respected and amiable Fitzpatrick's initial agreement with Dungannon will only be to fulfil the somewhat lesser role of coaching advisor.
That's believed to be because his continued link with Ulster means that he can't be taking on the more demanding post.
Meanwhile, the on-the-ground responsibilty will lie with 2nd XV coach, Willie Milligan and one or two other club stalwarts.
Ultimately, however, former international Fitzpatrick is expected to take over as coach in place of Andrews who is moving back to his native Ballymena.
A 36-year-old prop, Fitzpatrick agreed a two-year extension to his contract with Ulster last season, but there has been increasing speculation in various media reports that he is expected to get the all-clear to take up the major coaching post.
Fitzpatrick, who spent two years with Castres, won 26 caps for Ireland and has played 159 times for Ulster but is most fondly remember at Stevenson Park as part of Dungannon's All-Ireland League success in 2000.
The Chichester-born loose-head was a member of Ulster's European Cup-winning side in 1999. Fitzpatrick made Dungannon his club when he moved from London Irish in 1998 and, apart from his break in France, has been a member of Ulster squad since.
Should he, indeed, get the green light to succeed Andrews,an early pressing problem for the big man will be to find a playmaker in the light of Richard McCarter's decision to head home to the north west of the province to play with junior side City of Derry.



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