Barnsley have been conducting interviews for the vacant head coach role this week and would like to make an appointment in the next fornight, the Chronicle understands.

It has been 19 days since Jose Morais was sacked following the 4-1 loss at Derby County which sent the Reds into League One while there is a month before the players are due to return for pre-season training.

Barnsley are thought to have a preferred candidate but there are several alternatives if they are not able to appoint him. There have been interviews with several candidates this week, with more to be interviewed next week.

Darren Moore, the former Barnsley centre-back, was on the initial shortlist but has now been put in charge of West Bromwich Albion following an impressive spell as caretaker manager despite relegation from the Premier League.

The bookmakers' favourite is former Sunderland and Bradford City boss Simon Grayson who is understood to have applied for the job but has not been interviewed so far. The Reds will look to speak to several employed managers next week.

Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer, 46, who guided them to promotion from League Two last year, has been considered for the Oakwell vacancy. Two men known to be admired by the Reds are Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst, whose side play in the League One play-off final against Rotherhan United on Sunday, and Gareth Ainsworth who led Wycombe Wanderers out of League Two last month.

If Barnsley were to attempt to appoint Sheffield man Hurst, 43, they would surely face an easier task should his side lose at Wembley and miss out on what would be an impressive promotion considering the Shrews have one of the lowest budgets in the division. Hurst is understood to be wanted by Championship clubs.

Barnsley had an attempt to speak to Ainsworth, 45, rejected by Wycombe in February between the exit of former Reds boss Paul Heckingbottom to Leeds United and the appointment of Morais.

Grant McCann, the former Barnsley midfielder who was sacked by League One Peterborough United in February, has surged up the bookmakers' lists.

The Reds are hopeful of appointing the new boss next week but it is possible that the process could drag into June.

As well as looking for a new head coach, Barnsley are currently in the process of arranging their pre-season schedule – which could be released in the next week – and working on the release of next season's kits. The 2018/19 League One fixtures are due to be released on June 21 while the League Cup first round draw is on June 16. The new EFL season is due to start on August 3-5.