CITY Chief Executive David McNally says the Canary Board has headhunted their preferred candidate to become the next Norwich City manager.

Despite receiving more than 100 applications since news of Bryan Gunn's departure was confirmed on Friday, McNally confirmed the Board would not be conducting a lengthy interview process with more than one candidate as has been the case with previous managerial appointments.

Instead McNally and the Board have identified a shortlist of candidates in order of preference - and talks with their preferred candidate are underway and progressing positively.

He told First News: "As we said to everybody on Saturday evening, the process has started. From the moment the game finished we put in place our selection procedures - we have a shortlist of people that we're interested in and I would also add that many, many people have applied, but this is a headhunting exercise rather than interviewing people who have applied for the role.

"We have identified, in order, who we would like to see and we've focussed on our number one target. I have met with him and we are in talks. Unfortunately at this stage I can't confirm when he will be at the Football Club but I am confident at some point, as soon as possible, we should be able to make a positive announcement."

Asked if the candidate in question was currently in a job and whether City would be able to attract candidates from higher divisions, McNally replied: "He is currently in employment at another football club. I think there is no question that if that was the route that we wanted to go down that we could attract the right candidate. This is a big Football Club, a big football community and the supporters of this Football Club deserve us to be focussed on bringing them somebody who has the right ability, a good track record, energy, commitment, determination and alongside all of that, a true winning mentality.

"Not all footballers and not all football managers can take the pressures that go with being at a big football club. We need somebody who can and I'm confident that our number one candidate absolutely has those qualities and the right credentials for this position.

"We have researched the qualities and the experience and we've looked at suitable references, and all of the checks that you would have if you were recruiting a very senior employee in any other walk of life we've done, and we believe that we have the right person in our sights.

"We can't confirm that we have him yet because we don't, but we are confident that at the appropriate point in the not-too-distant future we should have something very positive to say.

"Nothing else currently, outside of course of the games that we play, matters at this Football Club. Everything else is on hold apart from our first team games and this task."