Austin MacPhee has been guaranteed at least one more audition for the Hearts job before he’s formally interviewed for it.
And he’s been told he could even be given the chance to buy Ann Budge time by taking them through to the winter break if he keeps winning.
The Hearts owner has promised the interim head coach - currently on duty with Northern Ireland - he’ll definitely be in charge for their game against Kilmarnock on Saturday.
He’ll then sit down within 48 hours to make his case for the gig on a permanent basis.
Budge has already spoken to out-of-work candidates Neil McCann, Stuart McCall and Steve Cotterill, as well as new Hibs Jack Ross, who is now obviously out of the running.
Stage two is for her to target in-work bosses she believes are a good fit for the club - and Stephen Robinson remains on her radar, despite the £120,000 Mailsport revealed it would take to prise him from the Motherwell dugout.
But she’s understood to be determined to make the right decision rather than the quick one.
And Mailsport believes that could yet see MacPhee take charge of the eight games they have in December.
