The Irish FA are intent on having a new Northern Ireland manager in place by July and aim to approach potential candidates this month.
Despite some of the practical problems the coronavirus pandemic may bring in the process, such as when face-to-face interviews take place, it is keen to push ahead to give Michael O'Neill's successor time to prepare should the internationals scheduled for September go ahead.
It is understood Northern Ireland Under 21 manager Ian Baraclough has strong support inside the IFA but Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson and recently departed St Johnstone supremo Tommy Wright also have admirers.
Wright is now a free agent so compensation is no longer an issue though it is believed Motherwell will not be difficult to deal with on that score should Robinson get the nod.
It looks like a race between those three though the IFA are refusing to rule out anyone at this stage.
They will welcome interest from across the globe but the key factor in their decision will come down to who they feel can make the smoothest transition for the players from the successful O'Neill era with qualification for the Euro 2020 finals the immediate ambition.
Robinson and Wright, who have worked wonders in their time in the Scottish Premiership, were previously part of O'Neill's backroom team at international level while Baraclough has been involved with the senior squad more recently.
IFA chief executive Patrick Nelson and president David Martin will lead the recruitment process.
It is expected a four-person panel, including Nelson and Martin, will interview candidates.
The hope is that these interviews will take place in June and the preference at Windsor Park is for those meetings to be conducted face-to-face, though given social distancing guidelines currently in place they may have to take place remotely.
O'Neill will be quizzed on his thoughts and senior payers may also be asked for their views on moving forward but ultimately the decision will come down to the IFA.
