Seán Boylan now knows the people he needs to beat if he is to remain in charge of the Meath football team for a 24th successive year.
The final nominations were put before the Meath County Board on Monday night and six other candidates will join Boylan in the interview phase before the position is voted on next Monday week.
It is likely Boylan will again get the required backing. None of the other six candidates appear to offer any overwhelming threat to his reign, although ultimately it could come down to the mood of the county delegates.
Leading the challenge will be Mattie Kerrigan, the former Meath All-Ireland medal winner of 1967.
Kerrigan managed both Westmeath and Cavan during the 1990s and should get the support of those intent on change.
Also nominated is Eamonn Barry, who ran Boylan so close for the position two years ago and is now managing his own club Walterstown.
The other names are former minor and current under-21 manager Benny Reddy; Martin Barry, a brother of Eamonn; Eamonn McEneaney, the former long-serving Monaghan forward who is currently involved with Trim; and Paddy Carr, the former manager of Louth and currently involved with the Summerhill club.
Former county player Liam Hayes will not be interviewed for the post as he has decided to stay on as manager of Carlow, while other names that had initially been put forward, such as Gerry McEntee and Colm Coyle, have also withdrawn from the running.
