A DECISION on the Brisbane Lions coach is getting closer, with candidates to face the club's board of directors next week.

The Lions' coaching selection panel has interviewed five candidates to replace Michael Voss and will narrow that down even further on Friday.

It is believed Neil Craig, Adam Simpson, Simon Goodwin, Leigh Tudor and Justin Leppitsch have all been interviewed.

This number is likely to be trimmed to two or three, who will present to the board next week.

However, despite a coaching succession plan being more fashionable in recent years – with Paul Roos at Melbourne the latest example – the Lions are not sold on that model.

Dean Warren, the chairman of the five-man selection panel, said the Lions were simply after the best coach available.

"We certainly haven't come to any conclusion at this point in time," Warren said.

"We've gone in with an open mind to look at options available and we'll discuss those again at the end of the week.

"There's no particular structural model at the moment, it's just moreso looking at who's the best candidate that fits our needs."

Once the candidates have presented to the board, the selection panel will make its final recommendation.

The Lions are desperate to fill the job in the next two weeks, prior to the commencement of the free agency and trade periods.


"We want to make sure the senior coach is in place and has the opportunity to talk to those guys and where he sees them in their future plans," Warren said.

Warren was also confident utility Brent Staker would remain with the club, despite speculation he was looking elsewhere.

The Lions met with Staker and his manager last Friday and offered him a one-year deal.

"Brent's management are in their rights to seek more security. He's 30 next year, had two knee reconstructions and had surgery on the other knee, so we understand that," he said. 

"We think what we've discussed with Brent and his manager is very fair and reasonable and gives him the level of security he requires."