The identity of the next Republic of Ireland manager will move a big step closer to being decided this week when the three men heading the FAI's search fly to England to interview some of the leading candidates.
Milo Corcoran, president of the Football Association of Ireland, along with treasurer John Delaney and Kevin Fahey, the acting general secretary and third man on the panel who will decide who succeeds Mick McCarthy, are due to conduct interviews with up to five contenders at a secret location, possibly in Manchester.
Former Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson is still among the favourites for the job, especially as he has a good relationship with Roy Keane and could persuade him to play for his country in the Euro 2004 qualifying double-header in Georgia and Albania in March and April.
Another man believed to be back in the frame is Peter Reid, the former Sunderland manager. His strength lies in the fact he may be able to take as his assistant Niall Quinn, the popular former striker who won 91 caps before retiring after the World Cup finals last summer and the country's record goalscorer with 21.
The panel, who may stay in England for more than one day, are also believed to be seeing former defender Kevin Moran, who made it onto special adviser Brian Hamilton's short list.
Moran has been linked with the job with Brian Kidd as his assistant, although Kidd is also in the running for the vacant post as assistant to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.
If Kenny Dalglish is still interested in the post, he too could be interviewed by the panel who will fly in either tomorrow or Wednesday.
The other man in the running is Frenchman Phillipe Troussier, who is also set to fly in to meet the panel.
Those five candidates face stiff competition from former FAI technical director and current bookie's favourite Brian Kerr, who has already been interviewed, and rumours suggest he would ask Tottenham first-team coach Chris Hughton to be his assistant.
Kerr, who has enjoyed unprecedented success in charge of the national under-age teams, is highly respected in Irish football, well liked by the younger players in the current squad who have come through the ranks and is seen by many as being the popular choice among the footballing public.
The FAI hope to have the process finished by the end of the week and will then make their decision.
They want the new man in place in time to take charge for next month's friendly in Scotland and are likely to announce a press conference early next week to unveil the new man.