Former Black Caps Jacob Oram and Matt Horne are in the "maybe'' camp when asked if they would apply for the vacant Otago head coaching role.
Oram's "maybe'' sounded a bit weak, though.
The 37-year-old was an outstanding one-day player for New Zealand and a pretty decent test player as well.
He made 160 one-day international appearances and clocked many kilometres during his international career.
The thought of spending more time away from his young family was not that appealing.
But then head coaching roles do not come around that often and the Central Districts assistant is ambitious.
"Things are going OK here and the kids are in school and all that sort of stuff. So while I would never say never, we are comfortable right now,'' Oram said.
"But an opportunity to be a head coach is not something I've done before and it would be worth a look. So I will probably read the job description and sit down with my wife and have a good chat about it at some stage.''
Horne said he had not given the position much thought but would not rule out applying.
"We've just got through the season and I haven't given it any thought yet,'' he said.
The former test opener played 23 first-class games for Otago from 1996-97 to 2000-01, scoring 1977 runs at a healthy average of 52.02, including seven centuries.
Horne was part of the coaching staff in Auckland but transferred to Northern Districts this season to take a role as assistant coach.
His family is still settling into its new home in Tauranga and it might be too soon to pack up and move again.
Wellington assistant coach Glenn Pocknall sounded more enthusiastic.
He has been the assistant at the Firebirds for the past four seasons and is ambitious.
Pocknall is well-entrenched in Wellington, though.
The 37-year-old is engaged and the couple are expecting their first child in August.
He had a season coaching in the Netherlands and worked for Sussex County Cricket Club for a season. He also worked for Cricket Ireland with the women's team for a season.
Pocknall has worked for Cricket Wellington in various roles for the best part of 12 years.
The offspinner played some age-group representative cricket for Wellington but retired when he was 22 due to a hand injury.
Auckland bowling coach and former Black Caps all-rounder Andre Adams feels it is too early in his coaching career to put in for the job.
"I love Otago but I think they need a head coach who is ready to go and more experienced than me,'' Adams said.
Former Otago captain Craig Cumming, now Otago Cricket Association commercial manager, has also ruled out applying for the role.
Cumming assisted the Volts with batting this season but was not interested in being the head coach of a first-class side.
"It is a role which requires someone who is experienced and who is ready to take up the role and I certainly don't have the experience,'' he said.
Cumming is keen to continue in his capacity as a batting coach and feels he has more to offer in that role.
Finding a replacement head coach has been a challenge for the association in the past and Cumming believes it is because the pathways "are not clear''.
"There have not been good pathways through the structures to produce first-class coaches."
You look around and ask who is the replacement going to be, and there are probably no standouts who are in the system, as such, at the moment.
"Otago Cricket do need to get some solidity, when you think they've had four coaches and nine captains in the last four or five years.''
Otago bowling coach Warren McSkimming has also ruled himself out.
He is the area sales manager for Tru Test but wants to continue "giving back'' to the province by providing bowling advice and coaching.
Former Otago coach Dimitri Mascarenhas, Otago assistant coach Simon Forde, Otago twenty20 captain Nathan McCullum and Canterbury assistant coach Brendon Donkers could not be reached for comment.
Nathan King resigned his position earlier this week saying it "was in the best interests of both Otago Cricket and his family''.
The Otago Daily Times understands more than a dozen players delivered unfavourable reports during the season review leaving King's position untenable.
He had a year remaining on his contract.
Otago Volts coach
The shortlist
• Former Black Caps all-rounder and Central Districts bowling coach Jacob Oram
• Former Black Caps opener and Northern Districts assistant coach Matt Horne
• Wellington assistant coach Glenn Pocknall
Not interested
• Former Otago captain Craig Cumming
• Otago bowling coach Warren McSkimming
• Former Black Caps all-rounder and Auckland bowling coach Andre Adams
