INTERVIEWS for the vacant Cowdenbeath manager's post are expected to begin this week.

The club's board have been encouraged by the number of applicants and a shortlist of candidates is being drawn up.

Club secretary David Allan said: "There have already been many applications received for the post of manager at Central Park.

"Thanks to all those who have expressed an interest.

"At this point, we are looking finalise matters and to draw up a short leet of candidates early in the week.

"We will then look to contact those selected for the short leet to arrange an interview."

The interviews will take place ahead of one of the most important public meetings in the club's recent history.

READ MORE: Club chairman Donald Findlay delivers statement to fans

Allan told Cowdenbeath Rotary Club on Thursday that losing the Pyramid Play-Off to Bonnyrigg Rose, last May, was a massive blow to the club financially, as well as in prestige, but a public meeting at Central Park on Tuesday at 7pm, could set the club on the course to prolonged recovery.

Said the long-serving director: “Relegation to the Lowland League was crippling financially for the club.

“In League 2 each season, the club would earn between £50,000 and £80,000 in prize money, depending on the final league position but this volume of money is not available in the Lowland League.

“Also, over the past few years, the club has seen income flow in general get tighter and tighter, and rely on directors to meet certain bills, and playing in the Lowland League has seen visiting fan numbers dwindle massively.

“So we have basically reached a stage where we have to look a new way ahead to try to increase the income flows to give the club the chance to compete to get out of the Lowland League, where we are playing against some clubs who are basically being given significant sums by sponsors which allows them to encourage players to join them.

“We see as a key way of finding a more solid way of getting income is forming a Supporters Trust, a mechanism which has allowed clubs such as Hearts and Dunfermline Athletic, who hit difficult financial times, get on a more solid footing.

“So the meeting on Tuesday, April 18, is about encouraging fans to some along and hear about the plans and give their views, because a recent survey we held showed that supporters all want to see the club back in the SPFL, as soon as possible."

David added that over the past two or three seasons, more and more volunteers, totalling more than 30 these days, giving their time up for free, were working hard to make sure that club continues to operate.

More will be needed though, if the club is to get back into League Two: “Such things as the club shop, key roles behind the scenes on the playing side, and such things as producing the club’s prize winning programme, are all achieved by volunteers, so more people prepared to help will make a key difference.”