Lewes chairman Stuart Fuller admits he has been impressed by the quality of applicants to replace Garry Wilson as manager.

But the Rooks will not be rushed into an appointment and may not have someone in place for two weeks.

Former Albion boss Martin Hinshelwood and Steve Eke will continue to be in caretaker charge for today’s Ryman premier visit to Canvey Island but neither are looking to take the job permanently.

Another former Seagulls manager, Mark McGhee, has been helping out as part of the three-man interim management team since Wilson, assistant Bloor and coach Dean Lightwood left the club last week.

But Scotland assistant-manager McGhee’s stint lending a hand is likely to end as he now has commitments north of the border.

Lewes are looking to make an appointment until the end of the season when they will review the situation.

The intention is to name another interim manager to take the club through to the Sussex Senior Cup final at the Amex on May 16, having beaten Loxwood 3-0 in their semi-final on Wednesday with Eke and McGhee in the dugout.

Fuller believes the interest in the position so far highlights the esteem in which the community club is held in non-league circles.

The club will not comment on any names but it is understood former Whitehawk boss Darren Freeman is among the applicants along with Eastbourne Borough academy manager Jay Lovett – who is a former Lewes player – and Keith McMahon, who recently stepped down after 11 years in charge at Ryman north side Thamesmead Town.

Former Albion striker Nicky Forster – who is currently manager of Staines Town – has also been linked with the position and it is believed the club would be interested in speaking to former Seagulls under-18 manager Steve Brown, who has local links and is available after being sacked by Conference south side Ebbsfleet United in November.

Fuller said: “We are sorting through a number of the applications. We will draw up a shortlist and we will look at conducting some initial informal chats in the next week or so.

“The appointment will be until the end of the season and then we will review the situation. We are looking for an interim manager and then at the end of the season we will review that but we may find a candidate who exceeds all our expectations in which case they might find themselves having the job.

“The quality of the applications is very good. There are some relatively obvious names that are in the mix, there are also some interesting names that have come across that we wouldn’t have expected.

“By a week Saturday we would like to be in a position where we are pretty close. Two weeks is probably more workable as there are quite a lot of moving parts in this.”

Fuller confirmed Hinshelwood would not be able to take the role on a permanent basis due to his full-time scouting role with Stoke City, as revealed in The Argus last Friday.

He said: “Martin won’t be doing the role until the end of the season. Martin is incredibly valuable within the club and will still be involved in the club but his other commitments with Stoke won’t allow him to be in that role.

“We have had a discussion with Martin on that. He is quite clear that his role is to help out where he can as he has been for the last couple of weeks.”

Eke, a former Lewes defender, works alongside Hinshelwood for the Lewes academy and is a former Eastbourne Borough coach.

He is pleased with the response of the players in the two games he has been in the dugout for.

Eke told The Argus: “We have had a couple of decent training sessions. We have given them more intensity in the games and they have taken that on board.

“We haven’t conceded any goals in the two games, which is great for us, so we are delighted with the players.

“The squad is thin at the moment but everybody is putting in a shift.”

James Fraser and Jordan Badger return to the squad tomorrow after being cup-tied in midweek but Sam Cole is ruled out by a back injury, Jack Walder remains sidelined and Leroy Griffiths is suspended.