The 49ers coach met with team officials in a big step toward securing his return for 2009. The Sacramento Bee reported news of a successful meeting on its Web site Wednesday morning.

Responding to the report, Singletary acknowledged Monday's session. But, for perhaps the first time since being appointed head coach, the usually blunt Singletary played things close to the vest.

"You guys knew there was a meeting. That's pretty amazing," Singletary said. "But I really don't want to go into that. I just want to focus on Washington, and it will all reveal itself at some point in time."

NFL rules prohibit an interim coach from re-signing until at least the day after the season. But it looks increasingly as if a deal for Singletary could come together quickly. The 49ers face the Washington Redskins in the season finale on Sunday with a chance to go 5-4 since Singletary took over for Mike Nolan.

The Bee reported that if Singletary returned, the coach would retain defensive coordinator Greg Manusky but not offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Singletary declined to address his coordinators' future on Wednesday. Asked about Martz, he said:

"I would say this: Mike Martz has been great this season. Everything I asked him to do, he made every attempt I think to do the things he needed to do. Going forward, I just feel that after the season everybody has to sit down and look at what gives us the best opportunity to win going forward."

Under Martz, the 49ers have 100 more points and 1,007 yards than they did at this point last season under Jim Hostler. But his high-risk, high-reward philosophy often seems at odds with Singletary's smash-mouth philosophy.

The 49ers have allowed 54 sacks (one shy of the team record) and rank last in the NFL with a minus-17 turnover differential.

Replacing Martz would mean hiring a seventh coordinator in seven years. The parade has included Greg Knapp, Ted Tollner, Mike McCarthy, Norv Turner, Hostler and Martz.

"Obviously, it's very difficult on the whole offense when you're changing every single year," quarterback Shaun Hill said. "Most of the top offenses you see in the league, they've been in the same system for quite a while.

"Offense is so much predicated on timing and trust and everybody being on the same page. Obviously, the longer you're in a system, then the better off you are at that."

Singletary, meanwhile, was doing his best to keep the focus on the Redskins game Sunday at Candlestick Park. The last time the teams met, the 49ers lost 52-17 in 2005 in one of the lowest points of the Nolan era.

The 49ers are coming off a come-from-behind victory against St. Louis for their third win in the past four games.

A day later, Singletary met with his bosses. He declined on Wednesday to say whether he walked out of that meeting with a positive feeling about his future.

"I think the most important thing is that I just continue to stay focused on Sunday's game," Singletary said. "And after it's all said and done, we can look back at how positive things are and talk about the direction, or whatever. We can fully pay attention to it then."

Notes: Nearly three weeks after spraining his ankle, running back Frank Gore remains uncertain of his ability to face the Redskins. Gore said his ankle has "been getting better every day" but allowed for the possibility that he won't get the 22 more yards to reach 1,000 for a third consecutive season. "I'll be upset, but if I can't get it because of injury, I understand," Gore said. "I really want to get it. It was one of my goals." Gore was limited in practice. He has not participated fully since turning his ankle against the New York Jets on Dec. 7. ... The team will not practice on Christmas Day, but they won't have the entire day off. Singletary told all the players to carve out at least an hour away from their families to concentrate on the game plan for the Redskins. "They didn't blink," Singletary said of delivering the message. "To me, that's the kind of team we have. Those guys understand what we are trying to accomplish. They understand the accountability." ... Right tackle Adam Snyder (ankle), who sat out against the Rams, returned to practice on a limited basis. The 49ers hope he will be able to start ahead of Barry Sims this week. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks (back) was also limited.

Contact Daniel Brown at dbrown@mercurynews.com