Graham Arnold, Tony Popovic still in running for Socceroos job, while Ange Postecoglou remains favourite FOOTBALL Federation Australia is expected to speak to all three candidates before appointing the new Socceroos coach. Ange Postecoglou remains favourite and he Thursday confirmed that Melbourne Victory had been approached but the Herald Sun understands Central Coast and Western Sydney have also been contacted by FFA. Chairman Frank Lowy on Tuesday declared it a three-horse race in the search for Holger Osieck's replacement, with Graham Arnold (Mariners) and Tony Popovic (Wanderers) the other contenders. Having spent the last five days speaking to overseas candidates in Europe, FFA chief executive David Gallop returns Friday to take charge of negotiations. The contract will be minimum 15 months to incorporate the 2015 Asian Cup, but possibly longer to incorporate the 2018 World Cup cycle. It's understood Gallop is favouring Postecoglou and despite Arnold being touted as his main rival, FFA chairman Frank Lowy is an admirer of Popovic having been stunned by the new club's rapid success. Ange Postecoglou controls a Victory training session. Gallop is likely to speak to three candidates informally before offering one of them the job, with negotiations still to take place with the respective club. An appointment is expected next week although it remains a strong possibility that the new Socceroos boss will continue on with his A-League club up until Round 5 - a week before the FIFA window when the Socceroos are due to play two friendlies. Victory's Kevin Muscat would be favourite to take over, as would fellow assistants Ante Milicic (Wanderers) and Phil Moss (Mariners). Concerned at the prospect of losing Postecoglou, Victory officials have had discussions in recent days and would like him to continue as long as he can with the club even if he's offered the national team job. Speaking ahead of Victory's game against Adelaide United Friday Postecoglou said it would be difficult to juggle both roles. "I tend to throw myself into whatever I do and they are both enormous jobs and I don't think you should take short cuts or half measures with either job," he said. I've had no formal contact, as far as I'm aware the club may have had some contact from FFA. I'm quite pleased we feel it is healthy enough that we can look at our A-League. You look at some other countries who struggle to get homegrown coaches to coach their national team, it's a healthy thing and I've got no doubt that as the league keeps growing we'll have more young and aspiring coaches or coaches who deserve a spot. Postecoglou was coy when asked about Socceroos captain Lucas Neill's criticism of young players not showing enough desire to play for the national team, but he did highlight some of their performances as positives from the 3-0 win over Canada under interim Aurelio Vidmar. `"I know it was Canada but it was good to see Matthew Leckie score, I thought Dario Vidosic had a good game and Rhys Williams looked promising," Postecoglou said.