DAMIAN Mori is firming as the new Adelaide United coach after the club locked down stringent criteria for a mentor on Tuesday night.

The Adelaide City legend and ex-Socceroo is tipped to lead the Reds for a minimum two-year term after interim boss Mike Valkanis was the frontrunner for the vacancy when John Kosmina quit in January.

Mori, right, is the only known applicant for the Adelaide job which was posted on Football Federation Australia's website with a March 15 deadline.

"It's not the right time to talk about jobs," Mori said.

"It's an important time for Adelaide United in the elimination final and I wish them all the best against Brisbane Roar."

But Adelaide chief executive Glenn Elliott believes United is on track to appoint a coach who would fit the club's philosophy after Tuesday's meeting laid down the new coach's blueprint.

But the announcement won't be made until after A-League season is over.

Philanthropist and principal Reds owner Robert Gerard was in South Africa during the meeting which Elliott described as a success.

The coaching panel committee was represented by Reds owner and board member Bruno Marveggio alongside Reds chairman Greg Griffin and board member Dr Richard Noble.

Member of the Reds coaching panel SBS football analyst and ex-Socceroo Craig Foster was hooked up to the meeting by teleconference.

"It was well publicised that there was a meeting held (Tuesday) night between the board members that were present and the panel of members that were present," Elliott said.

"It was a really constructive meeting with a positive outcome and we'll follow the process through until we reach a final appointment.

"That is a board decision in consultation with the coaching panel selection committee that will be made at the end of the A-League season.

"We'll come up with a final list from the applicants and jointly interview the final list and take it from there."

Elliott said Gerard was very contented with Adelaide United and the "game itself."

"On radio he said that he's in it (the game) for the next five or six years," he said.

Former Socceroos Alex Tobin and John Perin are also part of Adelaide's coaching selection panel.