Swindon Town chairman Andrew Fitton has revealed more details about the identity of his ideal successor to Maurice Malpas.

The former property developer said earlier in the week that a couple of candidates in contention would blow supporters away while one in particular could potentially be a dream appointment.

“He’s very experienced but just wouldn’t be an obvious choice,” he said of the mystery applicant.

“He has experience of the Premiership, either as a manager or an assistant.

“If I was a gambling man I’d say it was also likely the next manager would be British, but there are a couple in the frame who aren’t.”

The revelation would seem to dent the hopes of some of the front runners in the betting market who do not meet the ‘dream candidate’ criteria, such as current bookies’ favourite Ian Holloway and former Cheltenham boss John Ward.

Fitton admitted that the constantly changing manager market makes the selection process even more difficult with new jobs being created on a regular basis, as well as new candidates becoming available such as recently departed Charlton boss Alan Pardew.

“We think there are three or four candidates that are obvious contenders and about three or four more that remain interesting options,” he said.

“The others are people that are maybe in employment currently but have been recommended by people who we have turned to for advice with the appointment.

“I think the formal interview process will begin over the next week or so.”

Promising managers in the lower leagues, including Mark Robins and Nigel Clough, have been linked with the post, but Fitton feels this is an option they are unlikely to ultimately pursue.

“We have talked to one or two people at levels below League One,” he said. “I don’t think that is a direction we will go in though. It’s not impossible, but not likely.”