FAI technical director Brian Kerr will be the first candidate to be interviewed for the Republic of Ireland manager's job.

Kerr is expected to meet the interview panel early this week before leaving for a World Under-20 Championships warm-up tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

Former Northern Ireland manager Bryan Hamilton, appointed to identify the best prospects, has not yet presented his list of candidates to the FAI.

But association officials have decided to see Kerr early to help them get a successor to Mick McCarthy appointed before the 12 February friendly against Scotland.

The interviews will be conducted by FAI president Milo Corcoran, acting general secretary Kevin Fahy and treasurer John Delaney.

Possible candidates include Kenny Dalglish, Bryan Robson, Peter Reid, Phillipe Troussier and Kevin Moran.

Kerr managed St Patrick's Athletic for 10 years in the League of Ireland, before joining the FAI.

He then led the Irish under-16 team to the European championship title in 1998, the under-18s to the Europeans in the same year and a third-place finish in the 1997 world under-20 championship.

In five years in his role, Kerr has led teams to eight major finals, an outstanding record given his lack of resources.