Wanted man!

STEVE EVANS . . . the former Rotherham and Leeds manager says his advisers have been in talks with two clubs

ATHLETIC hope to conclude their search for a new manager by early next week, with Steve Evans still in the frame for the job.

Club officials are continuing to work on a deal for their chosen man to replace John Sheridan, with the first friendly of pre-season against Huddersfield only four weeks away.

Ideally, Athletic want to be in a position to unveil former Rotherham and Leeds boss Evans on Monday.

But the 53-year-old Scot, who has recently turned down a lucrative offer from China, says he isn't so sure he will be in charge of any club by the time the new season gets underway.

"My advisers have been in talks with two clubs, but we are a little way away from me getting involved in those talks," Evans said in a radio interview.

"The way it works in the modern-day game is, when you get involved yourself it is never about your own package or your staff. That's done with your advisers.

"It is then about the team and the budget and what goes on behind the scenes. As yet I have not had the green light to speak to people."

Another managerial target, Stuart McCall, is set to rejoin his former club Bradford when he returns from holiday next week.

Evans was linked with that job, too, while there are currently managerial vacancies elsewhere in the EFL at Nottingham Forest and Port Vale.

"You can't help being linked to jobs and it just demonstrates that you have had success," Evans said.

"If you look at Crawley and Rotherham and the success I had at Leeds, which is probably as good as any of them, you will attract interest.

"I have not had any word from Bradford and I am talking to two other clubs.

"That (Bradford) is an outstanding opportunity for someone ­- but my career is probably going somewhere else."

Athletic's fixture list for 2016-17 will be revealed on Wednesday, June 22.