SANTA CLARA – Merry Christmas, 49ers fans. Team officials plan on removing the interim label from fan favorite Mike Singletary and offering him a multiyear contract, according to a source close to the situation.

The offer likely will be made immediately after the team's season finale Sunday against the Washington Redskins. The NFL's Rooney Rule prevents teams from signing interim coaches to new deals during the season. Because Singletary is a minority, however, the 49ers do not have to go through a formal interview process at season's end.

When he was promoted in October, Singletary asked owner Jed York what he would need to do to keep the job for 2009. The answer: show progress, which Singletary has done by doubling the number of wins his predecessor, Mike Nolan, had before being fired.

The lone obstacle that remained for Singletary as the season drew to a close was articulating his vision, especially for the offense, for the next few years. He cleared that hurdle Monday during a meeting with team officials.

Under Singletary, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky would be retained for next season. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz would not.

With Martz directing the offense, the 49ers have climbed from last in the league in total offense to 24th this season. Martz has had the biggest impact in the passing game. The 49ers' passing attack, the league's worst last season, has improved to 15th this year. Scoring also is up under Martz. The 49ers ended 2007 with 219 points. They have 312 this year with one game remaining.

Martz's pass-first philosophy, however, is at odds with the ball-control type of offense that Singletary wants. There is also concern that Martz, a former head coach, wants another head-coaching opportunity and is only a short-term fit.

Singletary not only discussed his offensive philosophy in the Monday meeting, he cited several potential candidates for offensive coordinator. Those names are not yet known, although they are believed to include both current head coaches and assistants.

Asked about Martz on Wednesday, Singletary said the offensive coordinator "has been great this season" and "he made every attempt, I think, to do the things that he needed to do." But when asked if the current offense was the best he's seen since he's been with the 49ers, Singletary cited the team's 2006 offense.

"I think a couple of years ago, we had Norv Turner," Singletary said. "I thought Norv ended on a good note."

Under Turner, the 49ers finished 26th in the league in total offense, but their rushing attack was sixth. A run-first system would be more compatible with the types of offensive players the 49ers have recently drafted. When Nolan and general manager Scot McCloughan took over in 2005, they envisioned an offense that, like the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers this season, could overwhelm defenses.

Running back Frank Gore set a franchise rushing record in 2006 and averaged 5.4 yards a carry, compared to 4.3 this season. He also was slightly more prolific in the passing game, averaging 3.8 catches a game in 2006 vs. 3.2 this season. Still, Gore said Wednesday that he has enjoyed playing in Martz's system.

"They're different," Gore said. "In this offense, I can do everything. I can line up at receiver, running back, even at quarterback. But with Norv, it's so basic. I'm only in the backfield."

Sticking with Singletary would be immensely popular in the 49ers' locker room, where offensive and defensive players alike have lobbied for him this season.

"Just the way guys have responded to him and played for him says a lot," said quarterback Shaun Hill. "Those decisions aren't up to us, but we feel like … we're that close and we can turn the corner with what we have."

Retaining Singletary, however, might result in the 49ers looking for their seventh offensive coordinator in seven seasons.

"Most of the top offenses in the league, they've been together," Hill said. "Offense is so much predicated on timing and trust and everybody being on the same page, all 11 being on the same page. Obviously, the longer you're in a system, the better off you are at that."

Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/ ninersblog.