STEVE McMahon fears his hopes of becoming the next Burnley manager are fading fast.

The former Blackpool boss is one of "eight or nine men" Clarets chairman Barry Kilby claims are still in the running to take over at Turf Moor.

But McMahon, who admits he is "desperate" to manage Burnley, reckons a lack of contact since holding initial talks more than a week ago is a worrying sign.

Meanwhile, the interviewing process is set to continue today and tomorrow, with Kilby still confident of naming Stan Ternent's successor by the self-imposed deadline of early June.

The Burnley chairman said: "We have spoken to people already and we will speak to more this week.

"We will probably have talked to eight or nine by Tuesday, so we are right in the thick of things.

"I really do want to progress things as quickly as I can now and we are still looking at having the new man in place by the end of the month or early the week after.

"Obviously the quicker, the better for everyone concerned."

Kilby, who refuses to identify any potential suitors, added: "The calibre of applications we have had has been really good and I feel that is because of our name.

"There is something about Burnley Football Club that is attractive to a lot of people, so we are still confident we will appoint the right man to take the club forward."

One of the men likely to be interviewed in the next 48 hours is Burnley-based Brian Flynn.

Flynn said: "I have already indicated it would be a great job for me. I've lived in the town for close on 30 years and the club is close to my heart. It is still an ambition of mine to manage Burnley."