Let Woosie and Faldo do the next two, not necessarily in that order, and the next two after have to be Monty and Ollie Thomas Bjorn

Ryder Cup committee member Thomas Bjorn admitted that Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo are the leading contenders for the role in Ireland in 2006.

And the Dane hinted the loser would then be named as the 2008 skipper.

But Dubliner Harrington said: "What if he had a row with six of the players? What if the next captain suffered from ill health?"

Bernhard Langer's decision not to seek a second term next year has left the door open for a number of suitable candidates, a list which also includes Sandy Lyle and Jose Maria Olazabal.

But Welshman Woosnam, who served as Sam Torrance's vice-captain when Europe regained the trophy at The Belfry in 2002, is believed to be the preferred choice of the tour players' committee.

There are plenty of reasons why you wouldn't want to name the next captain after 2006 Padraig Harrington

They will meet in Dubai on 1 March to discuss the issue.

Six-time major winner Faldo, the record points scorer in Ryder Cup history, is thought to be preferred for 2008, owing to his US experience, which includes three Masters titles at Augusta.

And Bjorn and fellow committee member Paul McGinley admitted it was a "distinct possibility" that both captains would be announced on the same date, possibly 2 March.

"I think we are very much in the process of finding our next two captains," said the Dane, assistant captain to Langer during Europe's record victory in September.

"In my personal opinion I think we have the next four captains and it is a question of who does it when.

"Let Woosie and Faldo do the next two, not necessarily in that order, and the next two after have to be Monty (Colin Montgomerie) and Ollie (Olazabal)."

Bernhard was more serious and I can see that more in Nick, but I think Nick will be a great captain Thomas Bjorn

But Harrington, who is not on the 15-man committee, said: "There are plenty of reasons why you wouldn't want to name the next captain after 2006.

"You name one captain at a time."

Bjorn added that both Faldo and Woosnam would bring their own particular strengths to the role.

"Woosie is a very well-liked person and he will bring a lot of fun and camaraderie to the team," he said.

"Bernhard was more serious and I can see that more in Nick, but I think Nick will be a great captain.

"If you look at the last team there were a lot of players in that team who have the utmost respect for Faldo as a person and what he has done for the game.