The FFA has a task force scouring Europe for the ideal man for the job after former target Dick Advocaat officially pulled out this week.

Technical director Rob Baan is in Holland while FFA CEO Ben Buckley is in Paris looking to pick up a top name from the fall-out of Euro 2008 qualifiers.

"We have made a short list of three candidates, because you don't always get the one. But let's say we are working very hard on it at the moment," Baan told Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

"Of course you put a list together of possible candidates and we don't want to have 10 coaches on the list.

"We don't want to throw names around at the moment. As you can imagine, coaches who we are looking at are not very keen on getting their names in the papers. We're treating it with every confidence."

Possible names in the frame include Barcelona assistant Johan Neeskens, former German coach Jurgen Klinsmann and former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier.

Baan and Buckley are also hoping to talent spot at Sunday's World preliminary draw at Durban, South Africam which will be attended by countless coaches.

Buckley, Baan, high performance manager John Boultbee and team manager Gary Moretti are set to be in South Africa for the draw.

"We are going to the World Cup draw, so if we see coaches suitable for the job we will not let the opportunity go without talking to them," Baan added.

"At the moment four of us are going but there is a possibility one or two of those names will not go because of other obligations."