THE wait goes on to discover who will become to new Barrow AFC manager.

The Bluebirds have been without a first-team boss for four weeks, since Ady Pennock announced he and assistant Jamie Day were leaving Holker Street.

Managing director Andrew Casson said last week that a decision on Pennock's successor – the fourth permanent manager at AFC in less than a year – would be a made at the weekend.

An announcement regarding the appointment was expected early this week – following contract negotiations with the chosen party from among around 25 applicants, six of whom made a final shortlist.

However, with the start of pre-season training less than three weeks away, and the first friendly scheduled for Saturday, July 7, there has still been no statement from the club.

The confirmation of the new man in charge is still expected this week, and among his first jobs will be to add to the 11 men currently under contract with Barrow.

They include four players who have been put on the transfer list – Asa Hall, Dan Jones, Jack Barthram and Bedsente Gomis – with a fifth – Jordan White – joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle last week.

While Casson has said he considers the remaining quartet to be Barrow players going forward, he is aware any of them could follow White out the exit door.

Speaking before an announcement on the new manager was expected, he said: “They're still making their decisions about where they want to be, given their family situations and things like that. I've had a few conversations with various people, but I don't want to say much more than that until things are more firm regarding what they want to do.”

The new manager will also have a say on whether AFC pursue an interest in any of the players who ended last season on loan at Holker Street.

Kingsley James, Luke James, Lewis Walters and Ollie Cook were all with the Bluebirds when the campaign ended and are potential targets.

Barrow chief scout Paul Ogden has already assessed them himself, and Casson said: “Paul Ogden has looked at a couple of them. Ollie, in terms of his location and distance, I don't think is going to work for us, but Paul Ogden is looking at the others.

“I think they fall into the category of players who we'd want to get the new manager on board, looking at them and considering them first before we did anything.

“We've kept them in our thoughts, but we're being patient on that side of things.”