The Scottish Football Association have confirmed that they will appoint Craig Levein's successor by March next year.
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan revealed that the national team's new manager will be in place ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Wales that month.
"We are committed to appointing the best Scotland national coach possible and will take the necessary time to achieve that objective," BBC Sport quotes him as saying.
"The current welter of media speculation and the number of interested parties highlights the attraction of the role of rejuvenating the fortunes of the national team.
"We will work through a list of potential candidates and arrive at a short-list, from which we will establish a preferred candidate and, finally, appoint the new Scotland national coach."
Billy Stark is currently coaching Scotland on an interim basis, winning his first game in charge against Luxembourg this week.
Gordon Strachan, Joe Jordan and Owen Coyle are among the frontrunners to take the job on a permanent basis.
Mark Langshaw
