Dundalk and Kilkenny City confirmed yesterday that they expect to name new managers by Saturday and early next week respectively.

Sligo Rovers, however, have extended the deadline for applications for the job at the Showgrounds until Tuesday week, despite previous statements from the club that there had been a large amount of interest from prospective candidates.

Dundalk chairman Phil Flynn yesterday said that, having interviewed 12 applicants for the Oriel Park job, the club's board were now deciding between "two or three", but that it is likely to be "towards the weekend, probably Saturday, before any announcement is made".

Tom McNulty, Shane Reddish and Bohemians coach Gerry Reddy are believed to be amongst the frontrunners.

Kilkenny's board met last night to consider the 16 applications received from those interested in succeeding Alfie Hale at Buckley Park and it is anticipated that the leading candidates will be interviewed over the next couple of days with the position being filled by Monday or Tuesday.

Shelbourne, meanwhile, will not discover until this weekend who they will be facing at Tolka Park in two weeks' time in the first leg of the InterToto Cup first round tie. Their opponents will be either FC Lucerne or Neuchatel Xamax of Switzerland, but their league only finishes this weekend and whichever of the teams finishes higher (they currently occupy sixth and seventh positions), will be bound for Dublin. If Shelbourne win the tie they will face a team from either Luxembourg or Hungary in the second round.