Graham Arnold's tenure as coach of the Central Coast Mariners is to come to an abrupt end after the club granted him permission to pursue a move to a top-tier Japanese club.

The Mariners on Wednesday confirmed they had received an approach from a high-profile Asian club. Fairfax Media understands that J-League club Vegalta Sendai are the front-runners to land the signature of Arnold.

Heading overseas: Graham Arnold could have played his last game for the Central Coast Mariners. Credit:Getty Images

Vegalta are looking for a replacement for outbound coach Makoto Teguramori, who steered Vegalta to promotion to the J-League 1 in 2009 and guided them to a shock runners-up finish last year, after the 45-year-old was recently appointed as the new head coach of Japan's under-21 and Olympic team as of next year.

The J-League side is understood to have offered the vacant position to Arnold, who will travel to Japan this week to finalise the deal.