Chairman Lee Carter is eager for AFC Telford United’s managerial contenders to show hunger for the job, admitting he has been “underwhelmed” by the interview process.

The Telford Board have held extensive discussions with a shortlist of less than 10 candidates over the last week.

That list has now been whittled down further ahead of a round of further interviews, though Carter admits that no-one has yet emerged as a clear front-runner.

“I’ve been thoroughly underwhelmed by the interview process so far,” said Carter.

“For me personally, the realisation has dawned that the club is at a crossroads and we’re hurtling towards professionalism.

“I don’t mean that as a slight on any of the candidates, who have been thoroughly professional and illustrated that they could get us organised.

“But I’m still waiting for someone to grab us by the shirt collars and really prove that they want to be our manager. I haven’t quite seen that yet.”

Carter also revealed that the second interview phase would be the most taxing yet, with questions designed to bring the right man to the fore.

The Telford chairman hopes the successful applicant will be able to display an ability to transform the mood of the club straight away.

“We’re at the stage in the process now where, for the first time, we’re going to be looking into the whites of the eyes of those people and being thorough and searching – almost rude in our questioning,” he said.

“We want someone who responds by shocking us into making them manager of this football club.

“We ended last season down on our luck and with the momentum stopped. That’s what we’re looking for the new man to get going again.”