Hartlepool United understood to have held talks with three leading candidates regarding vacant manager's job at Victoria Park
The Hartlepool Mail understands that Pools have held talks with Nicky Featherstone, Chris Beech and Phil Parkinson over the vacant manager's job at Victoria Park.
Pools are now into their seventh week without a permanent boss following the surprise sacking of Simon Grayson, who left following a run of one win in 11 matches, on October 12.
In the interim, veteran midfielder Nicky Featherstone has taken caretaker charge, leading Pools on an impressive run of six games unbeaten.
Although the 37-year-old, who has no prior managerial experience and remains a member of the playing squad, endured a nightmarish start to life in the dugout as Pools were dumped out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage by Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity in abject fashion, Featherstone has since overseen a significant upturn in his side's form.
While draws with strugglers Sutton and Morecambe might have left something to be desired in terms of both performances and results, recent away wins over Halifax and Eastleigh suggest Pools are heading in the right direction under Featherstone.
Indeed, Saturday's dominant 2-0 victory over Eastleigh, the first time Pools had ever won at the Silverlake Stadium, must surely rank as one of the most impressive displays in recent memory, with Featherstone hailing it as the best performance of his interim tenure.
Crucially, the recent upturn in form has breathed new life into Pools' faltering play-off hopes, with Featherstone's side now just five points behind seventh placed Southend ahead of a winnable run of games in the lead up to Christmas.
The question on the lips of many fans, therefore, is why Pools haven't already given Featherstone the job on a permanent basis.
Last week, Pools were criticised by large sections of the fanbase following a bizarre "club update" that admitted the hunt for a new manager "remains ongoing" despite applications from "some excellent candidates".
That led to speculation that Pools are not convinced Featherstone is the right man to succeed Grayson on a permanent basis; whatever the case, it was hardly a vote of confidence in the club's third-highest appearance-maker of all-time.
The Hartlepool Mail revealed last week the Pools had also held talks with Chris Beech, who made more than 100 appearances at Victoria Park as a player but left in acrimonious circumstances after going on strike to force through a move to Huddersfield.
Although Beech stopped short of confirming links to the Pools job in an interview with the BBC last Wednesday, the 51-year-old admitted he had "spoken to three or four clubs" while also professing his love for the North East, its people and "the energy for football up there".
The reaction to the news was, to say the least, lukewarm among Pools fans; for some supporters, the manner of Beech's departure during his playing days is difficult to look beyond, while there are also concerns about his managerial record following underwhelming spells in charge of Carlisle, where he won 28 of his 88 matches, and Fylde, winning 15 of his 42 games at the helm.
The Hartlepool Mail also understands that Pools have held talks with former Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson.
Parkinson was sacked by the Robins in October following a run of seven matches without a win but is widely regarded as one of the Greater Manchester side's best ever managers having led Alty from the Northern Premier League to the National League during an eight-year stay at Moss Lane.
Whether the Pools manager's job, renowned as being one of the most difficult in England, would appeal to Parkinson so soon after being dismissed by Altrincham remains to be seen, although he would likely be a popular choice with fans at Victoria Park.