Yesterday was the closing day for applications to be the next Otago coach, and up to 25 people have applied for the position.
Tony Brown has moved to the Highlanders assistant coaching position after three years with Otago, leaving the union with the task of finding a new coach.
Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said a panel to assess prospective coaches would be appointed shortly, and the process to find the new coach would move to the interviewing stage.
''We've had a whole lot of people apply, which shows there is a lot of interest out there in a position like this.
"We've had international interest, guys from around the country, and then some guys who have worked in club rugby, who have put their hands up,'' Kinley said.
''It was a whole range of people applying. Former Otago guys, people who are new to Otago ... others who have coached at a national level. I find it quite refreshing to see people from all over want this position.''
The appointment panel would include a couple of Otago union board members, a person from the New Zealand Rugby Union and an independent appointment.
Kinley did not have a timeline on when a coach would be appointed, but he said these sort of positions inevitably take longer than hoped.
''If you end up interviewing people from overseas then you have to find a time for them and do it via video and it all takes time.
''We don't want to rush the process. First and foremost we want to find the right person for the job.''
The job was not solely being the coach of the Otago ITM Cup team, but also involved working with other coaches to develop and implement Otago's coaching style.
Kinley hoped to have someone appointed by Christmas, but nothing was certain.
In the past, coaches with no Otago connection - such as Phil Mooney and Kevin Gloag - have not enjoyed success, which has led to calls for only a coach with an Otago background to be appointed.
But Kinley said the best person would be appointed, regardless of their past experience.
There has been speculation Newby is keen to return home and is in the mix for the role.
He played 29 games for Otago before leaving to play in England at the end of the 2008 season.
Injury ended his career a couple of years ago and he is coaching at schools in England.
A former loose forward, Newby (35) was a player who worked hard for Otago. However, it may be too early in his coaching career to move into looking after an ITM Cup side.
But working through the system and coaching a club side is no longer the only way to coach a first-class team. Playing experience means more than it used to, as does having overseas experience.
Others believed to be in the running are Otago assistant coach Phil Young and Taieri coach Jason Macdonald, while North Otago coach Mike Mullins told the Otago Daily Times last month he was interested in the position.
Another possible candidate is former Highlanders assistant coach Murray Roulston, while club coaches Brendon Timmins and Marty Hurring could be possibilities.
