SWINDON Town are no closer to naming their new manager after the club’s board spent over four hours locked in talks yesterday, discussing a three-man shortlist.

Interim chairman Jeremy Wray and chief executive Nick Watkins spent all of last week interviewing eight candidates after receiving over 20 applicants for the position since former boss Paul Hart left the club towards the end of last month.

The Advertiser believes that George Burley, Dietmar Hamann and Paolo Di Canio are the three being discussed by the board, while fans’ favourite Paul Bodin and Torquay United boss Paul Buckle are no longer in the running.

Town’s directors had hoped to make an appointment today but after talks failed to come to a conclusion, fans will now have to wait until at least tomorrow to discover who is chosen to mastermind an immediate promotion back to League One.

One issue that could potentially be a stumbling block is compensation, which would be necessary in the case of Hamann as the German is currently first team coach at Leicester City.

Di Canio, meanwhile, remains in contention after he was yesterday ruled out as a candidate for the vacant West Ham manager’s job.

Hammers co-owner David Sullivan stated that the club are looking to appoint someone with experience following their relegation to the Championship.

“The problem with Paolo is, although the fans would love it, I’m being realistic and he has no experience whatsoever being a manager,” he said.

“My heart would say Paolo and the fans would say Paolo. But with someone who’s a complete novice as a manager, with no experience, you just can’t go with it.”

Reports yesterday claimed Torquay boss Buckle was on Town’s radar but the Swindon Advertiser understands this is not the case.

Meanwhile, Town’s caretaker boss Bodin will not be offered the manager’s job but is expected to be handed a role as assistant or a return to the youth team.