IT sounds like a headhunter's brief to find a CEO for a multinational. But every candidate to coach Sydney FC will have to satisfy a stringent set of criteria even to make the shortlist.

Sky Blues CEO Dirk Melton yesterday outlined the markers that will be used to assess candidates to succeed Vitezslav Lavicka, giving The Daily Telegraph unprecedented access to the strategic planning that the club is determined to employ.

Every candidate will be marked out of five against a range of demands, grouped under three headings - competence, focus and objectives.

They range from coaching acumen, decision making and people management to leader disposition and people management - with those general skills followed by specifics such as win/loss record, squad list management, youth development and public relations.

From the scores, a shortlist will be drawn up for the board to review and make a choice.

A series of objectives will be written into the contract of the successful candidate to reflect those demands - ranging from team success to player retention, transfer fees received, brand development and even the behaviour of the players off the field.

Ironically the process would produce a powerful argument for the man already installed as the bookies' favourite, Graham Arnold, given his success in bringing young players through at the Mariners while maintaining the club's long-standing culture.

While some traditionalists will gape at what is unashamed management speak, it brings an undeniable intellectual rigour to what is by far the most important appointment a club can make.

"Philosophy and style are the overarching factors, you're not going to have a conversation with someone who's style doesn't fit with what you want," Melton said.

"But then it comes down to how they rank on all of these factors. I need to present to our board a list of recommendations, and understand why some candidates may be better than others. That's as opposed to gut feel, or pure qualitative assessment.

"For me, first it helps us to eliminate people, shortlist people and discuss the merits of each candidate based on fact."

Melton will compile the scores, though after consultation with a range of figures given his lack of a background in the game.

"Something like win/loss is self-explanatory, and list management can be measured by things like player retention and transfer fees," he said.

"In the Australian marketplace, where 18 of your players have to be local, that's vitally important."

Revealing that Sydney have received 20 "credible" applications, Melton confirmed he hopes to finalise an appointment by the end of April.

"It would be wonderful if we could do it by then," Melton said.

"It has to be done before pre-season starts, and I'd love to be able to do it as this season concludes. The reality is I'm probably going to have to head overseas to catch up with a few of them."

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Originally published as New coach must tick all boxes