Wales chiefs risk losing out on Ryan Giggs to Stoke after a slow search for Chris Coleman's successor.
Coleman stunned the FAW on November 17 when he quit for Sunderland after Wales failed to reach the World Cup.
Wales were hopeful of keeping Euro 2016 hero Coleman on a new deal despite missing out on a place at Russia.
But it is only this coming week that the FAW and chief executive Jonathan Ford are due to start formal interviews after the festive holiday period.
Candidates to be spoken to include bookies' favourite Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Coleman's assistant Osian Roberts.
But Giggs is also a target for Premier League Stoke after sacking Mark Hughes.
And the FAW's reluctance to move quickly to replace Coleman could yet backfire.
Wales do not play again until March when they are due to participate in the China Cup in the Far East.
The FAW have used the time to recover from the shock of Coleman going - and also potentially save cash in salary savings which can be used to lure their man.
Giggs,44, made 64 appearances for his country from 1991-2007, including 10 friendlies.
Bellamy, 38, who won 78 caps for his country from 1998-2013, is working as Championship Cardiff's player development manager and has coached some of Wales' younger squads.
While Roberts has support among the existing squad to form a new-look management team with ex-international midfielder Carl Robinson, who is in charge of Vancouver in the MLS.
Wales hope to have their new man in place for the draw for the inaugural League of Nations competition on January 24.