Corporate recovery expert Trevor Birch has revealed he is considering other jobs.
Reports suggested Birch was concerned with the length of the FA's appointment process, and he told Accountancy Age that the role is not top priority, and that he was pursuing opportunities outside the game.
An FA spokeswoman confirmed that the shortlist for the chief executive role would be presented to the FA's council in November.
Birch's links with football came originally through a career as a professional footballer before working in accountancy.
He went on to head Ernst & Young's north-west corporate restructuring team during his 18 years with the firm.
Top jobs followed at Chelsea, Leeds and most recently Everton.
