Jimmy Nicholl (right) has acknowledged interest in the NI job

The Irish Football Association met on Wednesday evening to draw up a shortlist for the role.

Former Wycombe boss Lawrie Sanchez, Shrewsbury Town boss Jimmy Quinn and current national U21 coach Roy Millar are also likely to be interviewed.

Suggestions that ex-Rangers and Everton boss Walter Smith could be a contender appear wide of the mark.

Quinn's inclusion in the shortlist is something of a surprise as he had previously indicated that he didn't want to be considered for the job at this time.

However, the IFA has been in contact with Quinn in recent days and the former international striker has agreed to be interviewed.

Gerry Armstrong's hopes of landing the job appear to have been dashed.

The 1982 World Cup hero served as assistant boss during Bryan Hamilton's reign in the mid-1990s but it is understood that he has not been included on the shortlist.

I am very confident we will have the new manager in place before the end of the month IFA president Jim Boyce

IFA president Jim Boyce said that all the shortlisted candidates "have a Northern Ireland background".

Boyce said: "We now have a list of people that we wish to interview and that process will start in the week beginning January 19.

"I am still very confident we will have the new manager in place before the end of the month."

The IFA has yet to decider whether the job will be full-time or part-time.

Previous boss Sammy McIlroy quit the role to take over at Stockport County at the end of the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign, which saw the Irish finish bottom of their group.

The new manager will be in place for the 18 February friendly against Norway at Windsor Park.

Dunfermline boss Jimmy Calderwood has said he would not stand in Nicholl's way if he was offered the international position.

Nicholl looked set to take charge of his country in 1994 but could not agree terms with the IFA, after which Bryan Hamilton accepted the job.

The new Northern Ireland manager faces a tough task reviving the fortunes of a side that last scored a goal 14 games ago and have slipped to 122th in the world rankings.