Dundee United’s new manager looks certain to have no more than a watching brief for Saturday’s clash with St Mirren — if he’s appointed by then.
Former Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo remains favourite for the post but there was still no confirmation of that from Tannadice.
And, as recently as last night, United were still being contacted by candidates interested in succeeding Ray McKinnon as their team boss.
Unless any of them have a remarkable CV, it’s likely to be a case of too late.
United had wanted their new manager in and working with the players by Thursday.
And, while they might have completed their search by tonight that would be too late for him to take full control this weekend.
Caretaker boss Laurie Ellis has been preparing the team all week and it will be left to him to complete that task.
The new man could then start working with the players from Monday.
That would give him two weeks until the next league fixture to get them round to his way of thinking.
There is the matter of an Irn-Bru Cup quarter-final against Belfast outfit Crusaders on Saturday week but, whether it is Laszlo or someone else, the manager’s focus will be on the visit of Falkirk a fortnight on Sunday.
The cup-tie will be of secondary importance, though it could see a more experienced line-up than has been used in the competition to date to give the new boss the chance to have a look at his squad.
It has emerged former Dunfermline, Queen of the South and Ross County boss Jim McIntyre, thought to have been one of the main contenders, did not apply for the job.
With Alan Stubbs not interested, unless a late candidate appears on the scene, it does look to have become a choice between favourite Laszlo and John Hughes.
Whoever gets the post, it appears likely they will initially be handed a contract only until the end of the season.
The situation would then be reviewed in May, though a successful promotion campaign would obviously go a long way to seeing a longer deal being offered.
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