SWINDON Town chairman Lee Power admits League Two is proving a tough sell in his search for a new manager, with the shortlist for the County Ground hotseat now down to three names.

Power has reiterated his pledge that the new boss will have "100 per cent control of the football side'' but conceded their had been "a few hiccups'' in his hunt, with the courting of Mansfield Town chief Steve Evans now at an end.

The Town supremo had wanted to have a manager in place by the end of this week but, speaking to BBC Wiltshire this afternoon, stressed that getting the right person in place to ensure the club's stay at the bottom level of the EFL was as short as possible superceded any need for speed over such an appointment.

Town approached Mansfield for permission to speak to Evans earlier this week, a request rebuffed by the Stags, while ex-Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill and former Town player Adi Viveash are among those to rule themselves out of contention for the post.

Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald has said he would have to consider any offer put his way, although the Scottish side insist there have been no official overtures from the Wiltshire club.

Power, who parted company with head coach Luke Williams earlier this month, said: "We'd have hoped to have had something a little bit more close than we are by this time, but there have been a few hiccups.

"Football moves on so quick(ly) and for different reasons.

"I had a shortlist drawn up of a few people I wanted to speak to and one or two of those have been spoken to, but there's some other people that I would still like to speak to and others we haven't been given the opportunity to so you have to move on there.

"It (the shortlist) will be down to three and it's so important this time because the club is changing direction this season and all the responsibility regarding players in and out and everything really will be down to the manager.

"We need to make sure we get the right one in.''

Power conceded Evans' lower-league promotion experience had been a big draw for consideration for the role and while Town's reduced league status may have precluded some candidates from the reckoning, the chairman believes the County Ground post still represents an enticing opportunity.

"We're trying to look for people with experience and people we think can get us out of this league,'' he added.

"Steve (Evans) has had a lot of promotions and he was one of the people we would have liked to have the opportunity (to speak to).

"Obviously he's under contract at Mansfield and we have to ask for permission on that and that wasn't given so we have to move on there and go through the rest of the list.

"League Two is obviously not a great help. Like in any business you try and take people from a higher level and that (League Two) is a concern for a lot of people.

"Next season we'll have the highest budget, if not one of the highest budgets, so that's not a problem and Swindon Town itself as a football club at that level will be one of the biggest clubs, so that's one of the advantages.

"There's a lot of advantages and it's a good job for someone. They will take 100 per cent control of the football side and there's a blank canvas for someone to get on with the job.

Power also insisted that he won't shy away from targeting managers currently in employment in his search, adding: "There's been speculation for different managers and if the right one is there and we get permission to speak to them and it costs money, then it does.

"We're aware the clock's ticking but it's such an important position and we want to get the right man.

"I was hoping to be nearly there by this time but it hasn't happened so all I can do is make sure we get the right person and don't get rushed into doing something we regret later.''

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