Irish Football Association president Jim Boyce admits it is "highly unlikely" that the new Northern Ireland manager will be appointed before Christmas.
When IFA chiefs began their search for Lawrie McMenemy's successor in October they hoped to have the new man in place before the end of the year.
Although the IFA have spoken to all the candidates on their shortlist, Boyce admits they will probably not be able to make a final decision until after the holiday.
It is understood that the IFA are waiting for Leicester manager Martin O'Neill to rule himself out of the running before they put the full list of candidates to the international committee.
O'Neill may be interested in the job part-time and the IFA are waiting for the outcome of the current boardroom battle at Filbert Street.
O'Neill would be a hugely popular appointment with the fans, but it remains to be seen if he is available.
If O'Neill were forced to drop out of the race, then Macclesfield manager Sammy McIlroy would become the favourite.
Serie A champions AC Milan celebrate their 100th anniversary today by broadcasting Italy's first television network dedicated to a football team - "Milan Channel."
The channel will feature news bulletins, recorded rather than live coverage of the team's league and cup games, footage of great moments from the past and live coverage and interviews from their Milanello training ground.
Milan managing director Adriano Galliani said: "It's a new way of communicating with our six million fans."
Though the first of its kind in Italy, Milan are following a lead already taken elsewhere in Europe by Manchester United and Real Madrid.
England midfielder David Beckham has been included in a European `all-star team' selected by more than 200 journalists from across the continent on the basis of performances during the Euro 2000 qualifying campaign.
Beckham, who is also in the running for the European footballer of the year award to be announced next week, received 80 votes.
Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly (89 votes) and former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel (72 votes) were also included.
The full line-up: Peter Schmeichel (Denmark), Lilian Thuram (France), Paolo Maldini (Italy), Marcel Desailly (France), Sinisa Mihajlovic (Yugoslavia), David Beckham (England), Manuel Rui Costa (Portugal), Zinedine Zidane (France), Pavel Nedved (Czech Rebublic), Raul Gonzalez (Spain), Oliver Bierhoff (Germany).
