Terry Butcher has pulled out of the running for the Motherwell manager's job.
Butcher, who was removed from his position as Hibernian manager in the summer, was among six candidates interviewed for the post late last week and early this week.
But the former England captain - who managed Motherwell from 2002 until 2006 - has told the club he is no longer interested in succeeding Stuart McCall.
That leaves caretaker boss Kenny Black, former Scunthorpe and Sligo Rovers manager Ian Baraclough, ex-Kilmarnock and Morton boss Kenny Shiels and Dutch pair Robert Maaskant and Mitchell van der Gaag as the contenders.
Motherwell host fellow Scottish Premiership strugglers Ross County on Saturday and hope to make an appointment as soon as possible but the situation has been complicated by the uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the club.
The Well Society is aiming to push through a £1million-plus deal in partnership with Lanarkshire-born businessman Les Hutchison which could ultimately see the club become fan-owned.
An Argentinian consortium has also held talks over buying out majority shareholder John Boyle, who is owed about £350,000 by the club.
Boyle promised to hand over his shares to fans several years ago if they raised enough money to give the club long-term financial security, but Motherwell have since lost the best part of £1million in the last three seasons.
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