City fans will have to continue waiting for a new head coach – but the club firmly deny that they are back to square one in their search.

Chairman Edin Rahic had said an appointment was likely by the end of this week but the T&A understands that the wait is set to go on past the weekend.

It is believed that the owners are comfortable with where they are at in the recruitment process and are in advanced talks over a successor to Simon Grayson.

There is optimism that an appointment will finally be made next week.

The club took to Twitter earlier today to rubbish a national newspaper report claiming several candidates had rejected the job and that the Bantams were back to square one in their search.

It is understood the club did have talks with Paul Heckingbottom following his sacking as Leeds boss last week but the former City player wants a break before returning to management.

Reports that former Sunderland coach Robbie Stockdale was due to get the job are believed to be wide of the mark, while the club have been linked with a host of other names including Mark Warburton, David Unsworth, David Hopkin and Grant McCann.

But the prolonged wait to secure the new head coach could suggest an overseas appointment is in the offing, though the club are remaining tight-lipped on that prospect.

Barnsley appointed former Hannover boss Daniel Stendel this week and fans have often speculated that City's German owners could look to appoint a fellow countryman.

Former VfB Stuttgart boss Hannes Wolf and current Stuttgart second-team coach Andreas Hinkel remain in the bookies list of contenders, though Wolf was not thought to be a serious contender when Stuart McCall was sacked.

With the wait looking likely to go past the six-week mark, some fans are becoming increasingly restless.

But McCall was not appointed until June 20 in 2016 and Greg Abbott remains in charge of the club's recruitment plans for next season.