Following Benito Floro’s exit three months ago, Canada’s men’s national team has been without a head coach.

Interim manager Michael Findlay has been in control since then, overseeing three consecutive friendlies against Mauritania, Morocco and South Korea.

While Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani wouldn’t confirm whether Findlay is a candidate for the position, he told reporters ahead of Wednesday night’s MLS Eastern Conference final that the search is well underway for a new bench boss.

“We’ve had a lot of inquiries — especially from agents,” Montagliani said. “The door is open. We take all of those names, or e-mails, or resumes, or whatever into consideration.

“We haven’t started the process of interviewing, but we’re starting to sort out some timelines. It’s time to start thinking about it.”

Montagliani, who was recently elected CONCACAF president, added he prefers to have a new manager in place before this summer’s Gold Cup.

“In a perfect world, we’d like to have somebody in before the tournament,” Montagliani said. “The Gold Cup is a great opportunity for someone to get their hands on the program.

“But if the right person is out there and I know the right person can’t start until September, then it is what it is.”

A big name, perhaps? The association’s top boss would only say some of the candidates are “interesting.”

“I’ll put it that way,” Montagliani explained. “When you say big names, those are different snack brackets.”

Yet, probably bigger than Floro, who crashed out of 2018 World Cup qualifying earlier this year following back-to-back losses against Mexico, followed by a devastating loss in Honduras.

Still, Montagliani touted the Canada vacancy as a high-profile position.

“There’s not too many serious, World Cup qualifying jobs (in the world),” Montagliani said. “Obviously Canada is a country where people get excited about coming here.

“They see the opportunity of a base of players that has grown over the last four years. If I was a coach, I’d be intrigued with what’s here and what’s coming. I think it’s an interesting project for anyone looking to do this.”

The Canadian men’s team hasn’t qualified for a World Cup since 1986.

Les Rouges hasn’t even advanced to the final round — currently underway — of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying since 1998.

CANUCKS GET A BOOST FROM MLS

It’s not the solution Canadians wanted.

But it’s a solution.

Ahead of Wednesday night’s Eastern Conference final, MLS commissioner Don Garber, along representatives from the Canadian Soccer Association, revealed a new player initiative aimed at increasing the number of Canadians league-wide.

Beginning next season, Canadians who qualify as a Homegrown Players, or that have met similar requirements as a member of a Canadian Approved Youth Club — still to be defined — will count as domestic players for all MLS clubs, provided that the player became a member of an MLS club academy or Canadian Approved Youth Club in the year prior to the year in which he turned 16 years old. And, the players sign their first professional contracts with MLS or an MLS affiliate.

Prior to the announcement, all Canadians competing for U.S. clubs occupied “international roster spots,” of which there is a finite number (eight) for every MLS club. Canadian proponents argue the rule keeps American clubs from signing Canadians.

“More Canadians are playing in our league than ever before, but we all know there’s lots of work to do,” Garber told a packed press conference room ahead of Wednesday night’s match.

“We look forward to doing that together with our three clubs, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps and the Montreal Impact, as well as our partners at the CSA.

“This is an exciting time for the sport here in Canada.”

There are currently 32 Canadians playing in MLS. The league expects that number to expand rapidly with the new initiatives it has planned for 2017 and beyond.