Walter Smith had a spell as Manchester Utd assistant this year

But Pars chairman John Yorkston has indicated that Davie Hay, who this week left Livingston, is being considered.

"Davie's profile fits and is one of a number we are considering," he said.

"He is a successful manager, won a cup this year, helped Livi to third in the table a couple of seasons ago and got to another semi-final this year."

Smith, whose short-term contract as Manchester United assistant finished at the end of the season, had been sounded out about the Pars job but told BBC Sport that he was not putting himself forward.

Rushing for the first name to come in is not the answer Pars chairman John Yorkston

Hay is not wanted by the consortium trying to buy Livingston and take the club out of administration.

He has said that he would be interested in the job at East End Park, where he would again team-up with general manager Jim Leishman, to whom Hay was assistant at Livingston.

The longer Dunfermline are without a manager, the greater the chance they will miss out on the pick of the many players left out of contract this summer.

Pars job interests departing Hay

But Yorkston stressed: "Rushing for the first name to come in is not the answer and we will take our time to make sure we get the right man.

"We need an additional goalkeeper and the new manager will set his sights on that when he comes in."

Yorkston confirmed that applications had already been received from as far afield as the United States and Italy.