Jimmy Nicholl has emerged as the strong favourite to replace Sammy McIlroy as boss of Northern Ireland.
The Irish Football Association (IFA) has held talks with the Dunfermline assistant manager, along with other candidates for the post. But Nicholl remains favourite and is keen not to miss out on the opportunity this time around.
"I missed out on the job once before and I wouldn't want that to happen again," said Nicholl who would get clearance from his current employers if successful.
Pars boss Jim Calderwood said he would not stand in Nicholl's way if he was offered the international position. Nicholl had looked set to take the job back in 1994 but Bryan Hamilton got the job after Nicholl failed to agree terms with the IFA.
Whoever takes the job, the new Northern Ireland manager will face a daunting task, reviving a side who last scored a goal 14 games ago and have slipped to 118th in the world rankings.