Bristol City CEO Mark Ashton has revealed the club will take their time in appointing a new manager, having been "inundated" with applications in the wake of Lee Johnson's dismissal on Saturday.
Speaking to Robins TV before the kick-off of City's Championship match against Hull City, Ashton admitted that no direct contact has been made with any candidates and the club will conduct a full and thorough interview process.
Bristol City are looking for their first permanent boss since February 2016 after Johnson's sacking and with Dean Holden in caretaker charge of the team for the foreseeable future, will be patient in their approach.
"I've been involved in this process on a number of occasions in my career and it is a challenge, let's be clear," Ashton said.
"When I left the ground here on Saturday night, having spoken to Lee, Dean (Holden), staff, players, there were a number of people calling, almost offering their condolences because they were sad to see we made the change.
"But at the same time, the phone starts with coaches, managers, people representing those coaches and managers who see Bristol City as a fantastic opportunity, a fantastic job and a club that has real potential to get to the Premier League.
"We have been inundated with applicants - internationally, nationally; coaches, managers from right across the globe.
"So what we will do right now is pull together that list. We've had conversations with the owners with the type of individual that we're looking for and from that list we will start to interview and we will move through an interview process and find the right person for this job."
Chris Hughton, Mick MacCarthy and Paul Cook of Wigan Athletic are some of the managers who have reportedly declared an interest, with claims that Swansea's Steve Cooper and Lee Bowyer of Charlton are also on a shortlist.
Bristol Live understands that's City's preference is for a coach, more than a old-style manager, who can work directly in player development, and not demand total control over other aspects of the club.
Former Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle manager Hughton has remained clear bookmakers' favourite for the last 48 hours, and the overwhelming pick of supporters, but Ashton insists the interview process is yet to begin.
"I've seen and I'm told that there's a lot of names linked with the job in the media. But what I would say to our supporters, and I think it's important that they hear it from me, is that right now we haven't spoken to anyone," Ashton added.
"When we appoint, the first people to hear our appointment, as soon as we possibly can, will be the fans. And they'll hear that directly from the football club.
"While I can understand this is a difficult time for many people, the football club is in good shape. Dean is in charge, we have fantastic owners, a strong board. We've made a very difficult decision to change a manager who served us well.
"But now we move on. It's a steady ship and we will look to the future and to the best of our ability appoint the right person moving forward."
