Geoffrey Richmond will not be naming the next Bradford City manager before the New Year.

The Bantams chairman refuses to rush as he considers the early runners and riders to replace Jim Jefferies.

And he confirmed that youth team boss Steve Smith will continue in a caretaker role for the next two games - against Crystal Palace on Saturday and at Burnley next Tuesday.

Six applicants have already contacted Richmond, who laughed off a rumoured offer from Stan Collymore.

But it is understood early favourite Peter Jackson has cooled his interest because he does not believe it is the right career move.

Richmond said: "We're not going to be a bull in a china shop and grab the first person that looks half likely to be right. There is always a danger of moving in haste and repenting at leisure, and I don't want to do that.

"If it's going to take another few days or another week to very seriously consider all the options that are open to us, so be it.

"This is not a normal time of year to be appointing a manager and you want to bring someone in without the pressures of games every three days, which we have during this period.

"We're ruling nothing in and nothing out - it's genuinely a clean sheet of paper. The only thing I am ruling out is that we will not entice away from their present club any contracted employee.

"I can say that no application has been received from Stan Collymore. Although we greatly appreciate the interest, we will not be considering it as serious."

Jefferies is still locked in a compensation battle with the club.

Richmond said: "There's no question he did resign. He resigned verbally on Sunday morning and I accepted that on behalf of Bradford City.

"The lawyers have since got busy over what constitutes a resignation, and the other side claim it would be a piece of paper with a signature on.

"The true argument isn't whether Jim Jefferies is still the manager, it's the usual one over compensation due.

"On that matter we very amicably agreed to disagree on Monday, and that's to be resolved."

Smith was coy about his own chances following yesterday's 2-1 defeat against Sheffield United - City's fifth loss in six games.

He said: "I'm in charge for the next two games and we'll see what happens after that.

"If we've played three and lost three, I don't think my hat will be going in the ring."