Simon Wormull could get the Crawley job on a permanent basis after the club delayed the appointment of their new manager for another two weeks.

Reds were scheduled to hold second interviews with three candidates this week but these did not take place.

Instead, there were 'informal discussions' involving club officials about the way ahead, according to general manager Paul Hobbs.

Wormull takes charge for the fourth time at Burton Albion in the Conference tomorrow and Hobbs confirmed he will also be in charge when they entertain Gravesend & Northfleet next Saturday.

And he admitted that good results in their next two games might persuade the club to offer the 28-year-old midfielder the job full-time.

"It is something we would certainly look at. I wouldn't rule it out," said Hobbs.

"There is nothing happening at the moment and it will be ten-14 days before there is any decision on the manager.

"There were no interviews as such this week, just discussions within the club. We want to make sure the decision we take is the right one."

Wormull has thrown himself into the caretaker role since Francis Vines was sacked a month ago. He has signed Tris Whitmore and Dorryl Proffit, released Stuart Douglas and Danny Davidson, and is keen to go into management at some stage of his career.

But whether he can be persuaded to take on a player-manager's role at 28, when he still feels he has a lot left to offer on the pitch, is another matter.

After guiding them to a 2-0 win over Southport last Saturday he said: "I've always said I want to get into management one day and though it might be a bit soon this time. I'd be happy to keep a coaching role if that suited the new manager."

One person with first-hand experience of player-management is Jimmy Quinn - one of the names on Crawley's short-list of three - who took Reading to the play-offs while still a player. "I wouldn't encourage anyone to do that," he said. "When you lose games and have to drop people while still playing yourself players get upset and it can be hard to deal with."

Meanwhile Quinn has been left in limbo by Crawley's decision to delay the appointment although he is expected to watch tomorrow's game.

"I turned down some radio work earlier in the week because I was hoping to hear from the club and thought I'd be down there sorting things out. Then my agent phoned the club and was told it would be another couple of weeks before the appointment was made."

Wormull is hoping that Burton's busy schedule this week might catch up on them tomorrow as they seek back-to-back Conference wins for the first time this season.

The Brewers officially opened their new £6.9m Pirelli Stadium by beating a Manchester United XI 2-1 in a friendly on Monday in front of 6,065 - their biggest crowd for 50 years.

Then on Wednesday a 73rd-minute goal from former Notts County striker Shaun Harrad was enough to knock Peterborough out of the FA Cup and earn the Brewers a home tie with another non-league outfit, Burscough, in the second round.

Burton have kept clean sheets in their last five competitive games which included a goalless draw in the first tie at London Road and last Saturday's 1-0 win at York which ended the Minstermen's unbeaten home record.

With Steve Burton back from suspension, Reds should be at full strength. Defender Neil Jenkins (hamstring) was taken off towards the end of the Southport game but Wormull expects him to be fit.