SWAMPSCOTT — Matt Malone's long search for a new job may have ended — in Brockton.

The School Committee of that South Shore city has voted 4-3 to offer him the position of superintendent. Malone has not yet accepted but is expected to begin negotiating a contract.

Yesterday, he declined to speak with a reporter.

If he leaves his post as superintendent in Swampscott, it will be no surprise. Previously, he has been a finalist for jobs in Springfield, Worcester and even Reno, Nev. He'll part on good terms, however, with his bosses on the Swampscott School Committee, who recently extended his contract for one year, until June 2011, despite his ongoing quest to relocate.

"We wanted to keep him," said board member Joseph Crimmins. "The School Committee is very happy with his services." He said, "I wish him the best of luck. I'm happy for him."

At the same time, knowing Malone's intentions, the board is prepared to find a replacement, according to Crimmins. "We'll have a plan in place — what we're going to do and how we're going to do it."

"I like Dr. Malone," said School Committee member Glenn Paster. "I think he's done a really good job ... a great job."

He praised especially Malone's handling of dramatic budget cuts. "He has a natural knack for finding ways to make it work," Paster said.

Malone came to Swampscott in 2005 after serving as an aide to the superintendent in San Diego

He currently earns more than $150,000 a year.

Brockton is probably most famous for its past boxing champions, Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler. Today, it's a large and sometimes troubled urban school district, exactly the sort of assignment Malone has longed to fill. Brockton has 15,000 students, compared with Swampscott's 2,400.

"Dr. Malone has been upfront," Paster said, "about wanting to work in an urban setting."

On his selection in Brockton, Malone was praised as a candidate so well-qualified he had to be chosen. Two members of the Brockton School Committee described him as "a rock star."

Yet, according to the Brockton Enterprise, the decision to hire him was a near thing. Initially, he drew three votes from the School Committee while one local rival also got three votes and a second in-house candidate drew one.

Mayor James Harrington declined to break the tie — as he was entitled to, according to the Enterprise. A second poll saw Malone's total increase to four votes.

"I'm very disappointed a Brockton candidate wasn't chosen," said school board member Richard Bath.