“To be honest, we don’t know anything about him [Arnold]. We are making inquiries,” Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston admitted to Scotland's Dundee Courier.

“We don’t want to rush things. There are still names coming out of nowhere — Graham Arnold was one of those,” Yorkston added.

Arnold currently has a contract with the FFA to coach the Olyroos. He successfully took the side to the 2008 Olympics after a hard-fought Asian qualification campaign.

He took a well-earned break after ensuring the U/23s' qualification for Beijing last month but hinted he may not stick around as the coach of the side.

Under Arnold, the Socceroos reached the quarter finals of the Asian Cup last July in a campaign generally regarded as a disappointing flop.

A number of names have been linked to the Fife club, which sacked Stephen Kenny last week after a poor run of results. One of those names is recently sacked Brentford manager Terry Butcher.

The former Sydney FC coach – who was sacked by the A-League club ten months ago – is well known in Scotland after coaching Motherwell for four years before his dismal stint in the harbour city.

His Brentford side failed to score in its last five games, losing all five, which precipitated his exit. He'd been in charge at the Bees, in England's League Two, for just six months and won just five of his 23 games.

Yorkston added: “We have had a number of applicants - around 30 - and we have managed to whittle that down substantially, although I would rather not give a figure.”

Arnold's agent was unavailable for comment last night. Ian Ferguson, assistant coach at Central Coast Mariners - and former Dunfermline and Rangers hero - is also said to be in the running for the job.