Blackburn Rovers will draw up a shortlist of potential managers on Thursday, according to the club's global adviser, Shebby Singh. Rovers have received dozens of applications for their managerial vacancy since Steve Kean resigned on 28 September although the club's Premier League-winning striker Alan Shearer, despite expressing interest in the job, has had no contact with the owner, Venky's.

Eric Black, formerly Kean's assistant, has been in charge for the past three matches, draws at Charlton and Nottingham Forest plus a home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the international break affords Venky's added time to consider its options.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Tim Sherwood, Shearer and the former Spain coach Javier Clemente have been linked with the position, with Tottenham reluctant to let the former Rovers captain Sherwood leave their coaching team for a return to Ewood Park. After the divisive appointment of Kean, however, Singh admits Blackburn's owners must make their next choice with care.

He said: "I had a chat with Eric on Monday and we know there is pressure on all of us but it is important we continue working regularly, with Eric and his coaches looking after day-to-day affairs. We are in a hurry to make the right decision but we will not rush it. We could make a decision in a week, it could take three weeks, I will not let circumstances dictate.

"I am going to have a meeting with my colleagues on Thursday where we will look at all the names in the hat and draw up a shortlist from there. It could be a shortlist of one, it could be a shortlist of three or four. In the meantime I would call for some understanding from the fans. Eric has to be given support, the team have to continue their preparations."

Blackburn next play at Derby on 20 October and Singh indicated that Black remains in contention for the job full-time. "If we had a game on Saturday, the whole scenario changes, but we now have two weeks before the next game. It has been a very difficult week for Eric, with three games in seven days, and there is a lot of pressure on him. He will be taking day-to-day charge while we are firming up what we need to do and we know we are in safe hands."