Director of England cricket Andrew Strauss has revealed that the team may not have a permanent head coach in place by the start of the Ashes.
The ECB are hunting for a new leader following the sacking of Peter Moores earlier this month.
Strauss is believed to have made contact with Australian Jason Gillespie, who is currently the coach of County side Yorkshire, but the ex-England captain has insisted that he will not rush the appointment.
"There is a ticking clock ahead of the Ashes, but we won't rush it," Strauss told the BBC's Test Match Special. "In an ideal world we'll have someone in place before that, but not if it's not the right man."
Paul Farbrace is in charge of England's current two-Test series against New Zealand.
The Ashes will begin on July 8.