The hunt for a new head coach at the Central Coast Mariners is heating up, as potential candidates have reportedly been in talks with the club.

Tony Walmsley was sacked as the Mariners boss following the club's loss to NPL VIC state league side Green Gully in the FFA Cup Round of 32, which came after a disappointed 2015-16 campaign which saw the Mariners come in dead last.

It has been understood that former Mariners Damian Mori and Tony Vidmar have held talks with the club over the head coaching job.

Mori has led Adelaide City to South Australian state league titles as well as an historic FFA Cup win against the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014, while Vidmar has been the national coach at U17s level.

Former Wellington Phoenix head coach Ricki Herbert is also among the shortlisted names, as the club intends to appoint a new manager over the next fortnight.