Carlisle United's process of appointing their next head coach is set to continue into a fourth day - with hopes still high of a new man being in place soon.
The Cumbrians on Wednesday again gave no update on the progress of finding Mike Williamson's successor.
But it's understood the Blues remain keen to secure their new head coach in the build-up to Saturday's trip to Grimsby Town.
And Mark Hughes emerged on Wednesday as odds-on favourite with bookmakers.
The former Bradford City boss saw his odds cut to 1/4 amid a wave of speculation linking him with the hotseat.
Former bookies' favourite Jon Brady, the former Northampton Town boss, has also long been a leading contender.
United sacked Mike Williamson on Monday morning and have still not made any comment beyond their three-paragraph statement that accompanied his dismissal.
Preparations for the trip to Blundell Park are continuing with Williamson's backroom team understood still to be in place.
The Cumbrians are due to be in training on Thursday as United aim to finalise the appointment of the man they hope can lead them to EFL survival with 18 games of the season left.
Brady's odds with BetVictor had drifted from 2/5 to 3/1 on Wednesday afternoon, the ex-Cobblers boss long thought to be a credible candidate to succeed Williamson.
The former Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell remained high in the betting with the former Swindon Town and Lincoln City boss Mark Kennedy emerging as a 4/1 shot before Hughes suddenly appeared in the betting at 1/4 before the market was again suspended.
Ex-Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and QPR boss Hughes, whose last job was in League Two with Bradford, would be a high-profile option.
Yet Brady's respected track record at Northampton, where he rebuilt their fortunes after relegation and duly guided them back up to League One, could also prove appealing in their predicament at the foot of League Two.
The 50-year-old Australian resigned at the Sixfields Stadium in December after three-and-a-half years in charge.
The unlikely link with Steven Gerrard continued to find favour with bookmakers with the Liverpool legend 4/1 on Wednesday afternoon. Former Bolton Wanderers and Barrow boss Ian Evatt was 6/1.
