Queens have had more than 30 applicants for their vacant managers position.
But there won’t be any movement on an appointment until after the club has taken on Hibs in the final game of the season on Sunday.
Chairman Billy Hewitson has suffered a family bereavement which has slowed down the club’s process of picking James Fowler’s successor.
The 35-year-old was dismissed last Monday night after 18 months in the job – following a string of poor results – which included a defeat at Dumbarton and draw at relegated Alloa Athletic.
Mr Hewitson told Standard Sport: “There are certainly plenty names in the frame. We’ve had more than 30 applicants.
“We’ll start the process of sifting through the applications next week.”
Some of the names being linked with the job include former Killie boss Gary Locke, ex-player Neil Scally who is now first team coach at Ayr United and current caretaker manager Gavin Skelton.
Albion Rovers manager Darren Young is apparently in the frame. He received the Ladbrokes League One Manager of the Month Award for last October.
They are the bookmakers’ favourites but others are in the frame including former Dundee and Alloa boss Barry Smith, who has just left Aldershot Town. Stranraer’s Brian Reid and Albion Rovers’ Darren Young are two more names being speculated by fans of the Doonhamers.
However, Standard Sport understands it’s unlikely that Queens will be approaching another club to talk to any manager currently employed in another role.
East Fife’s League Two title winning manager Gary Naysmith has already ruled himself out of the job after speculation linked him to the Palmerston hot-seat.
In the meantime Queens have opened up discussions with several key players with the aim of getting them tied up for next season. They include top scorer Derek Lyle, captain Chris Higgins and fan favourite Iain Russell.
Keepers Robbie Thomson and Jim Atkinson, award-winning defender Jordan Marshall and utility man Jake Pickard are the only players currently with contracts for next season.