The new England coach may not be in place before the Ashes start in July, says cricket director Andrew Strauss.
Strauss is set to hold talks with Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie over succeeding Peter Moores, who was sacked in May.
“There is a ticking clock ahead of the Ashes, but we won’t rush it,” Strauss told Test Match Special.
“In an ideal world we’ll have someone in place before that, but not if it’s not the right man.”
Paul Farbrace, Moores’s assistant, has been put in charge of the side for the two-Test series against New Zealand, which began at Lord’s on Thursday.
The five-Test Ashes series against Australia starts on 8 July.
Former England captain Strauss will meet with former Australia pace bowler Gillespie, who led Yorkshire to the County Championship title last year.
Strauss also approached Justin Langer, but the ex-Australia opener has opted to remain with Western Australia.
“The recruitment process is going pretty well. I’m straight into the job and conducting my first interview process,” Strauss said.