James Fowler has revealed Kilmarnock are ready to start interviewing potential successors to Alex Dyer.
The Rugby Park side are scrambling to replace the Englishman after a 3-2 defeat to St Johnstone last weekend proved the final straw on his tenure.
Head of football operations Fowler took charge of the 4-0 mauling from Celtic on Tuesday alongside assistant Andy Millen and captain Gary Dicker.
Record Sport revealed earlier this week that Tommy Wright and Stephen Robinson were in the frame to take the job.
But if no new man is appointed by the weekend, the trio will again lead the side against St Mirren in a bid to avoid a fifth straight defeat.
Fowler said on Thursday: "Myself and the board met yesterday so that process has begun and that is a positive and we will crack on with that.
"I think the club have said that they are looking to move very quickly.
"Obviously we will follow the proper processes and hopefully get the right person in.
"We have identified the ones we are going to take forward for interview, that has begun and once we get a chat with these candidates, they get a feel for us, we get a feel for them, we will have a better idea where we are going to go moving forward.
"Any time a job comes up there are lots of good people who are out of work just now so we have had lots of applications and interest and we have identified one or two ourselves so we will crack on with that in the coming days and hopefully get somebody in soon.
"Myself, Andy and Gary are preparing as if we are going to be in charge (for Saturday).
"The boys trained well this morning, there will be training tomorrow and prepare for the match on Saturday which is our main focus for now."
Kilmarnock are five points ahead of bottom side Hamilton having played a game more.
Fowler said: "Any time you play a team around you it can be seen as a six-pointer.
"It is a massive game for us, as they all will be between now and the end of the season."
