AFL.com.au understands the Demons scheduled an interview with Collingwood director of coaching Rodney Eade this week, and interviewed Richmond assistant Mark Williams last week.
They have also indicated that interim coach Neil Craig is considered to be a candidate for the position.
However, the sudden sacking of Lions' coach Michael Voss on Tuesday may provide greater clarity more quickly than anticipated on what Roos intends to do in 2014.
Craig has a year to run on his contract after his appointment in 2012 as the Demons director of sports performance for three seasons.
He has refused to rule in or out his interest in coaching Melbourne beyond 2013, repeatedly saying he will wait until the Demons determine what type of coach they want to appoint before declaring his hand.
Many suspect Craig will assess his chances of gaining the job before commencing a formal application.
He indicated on AFL Gameday last month that whether or not he remains at the club in 2014 might depend upon the club's decision on its coach.
"That will be up to the club. I am contracted until the end of next year, but if there is not a position there - a worthwhile position - I am sure we will come to an arrangement," Craig said.
"It could be a situation where you are there as the senior coach or you are not there at all."
There remains a possibility the club would pursue strong assistant coaching candidates to work under Craig for a season before one assumed the top job.
However, it has not yet made an approach to assistants such as Hawthorn's Adam Simpson and the West Coast Eagles' Scott Burns.
CEO Peter Jackson said in July that an experienced coach should fill the senior job made vacant when Mark Neeld was sacked after round 11.
St Kilda assistant Dean Laidley, who has been considered a candidate at the Demons, told K –Rock on Monday he was unlikely to throw his hat in the ring for the Melbourne job. "I like my lifestyle at the moment," Laidley said.
The club has been in no rush to sign a coach, ensuring it has a strong process in place to appoint the right man for the job.
If either Williams or Eade were chosen as the next senior coach, Melbourne would wait until their respective clubs were out of the finals before asking them to begin with the Demons, following AFL Coaches Association protocols around appointing coaches from other clubs.
While key player Jack Watts and free agent Colin Sylvia are out of contract, the club is confident it can continue to make strong list management decisions before a senior coach is appointed.
Watts has indicated he is waiting until the football department restructure is clear before re-committing.
Of course Roos could begin immediately, while announcing Craig's appointment would not need to be rushed.
The prospective coaches are also understood to be keen to know the possible board structure.
The selection committee Melbourne developed to choose its next coach includes Jackson, acting football manager Josh Mahoney, development manager Todd Viney, football director Greg Healy and four-time premiership coach David Parkin.
The club also held its Foundation Heroes dinner on Wednesday night, where members were told that the club was facing 'reality'.
Despite the rocky road in the past two years the club was pleased with the continued support of Foundation Hero members.
At the event members were told list management and development were to be the key focus for the club in the next couple of years.
Many more Melbourne listed players are expected to represent the Casey Scorpions, the club's VFL alignment, in this year's finals series than in previous years.
It was said the process for selecting board members was progressing well and the club is hopeful of finalising the board in the next few weeks.
The president will come from that new board. Glen Bartlett, who joined the board in July, is a strong possibility, while former board member Alan Stockdale has declared his desire to become president but he is not yet on the board.
The AFL will need to approve the new president after promising to support Melbourne as it restructured.
Details of the club's financial package with the AFL are still being finalised, but Jackson expressed frustration recently to key supporters at a pre-game function about the way the package was being portrayed in the media.
The cash component of the package handed out is understood to be around $1.5 million to pay out staff, with additional components dependent on AFL underpinning directed towards a new start in 2014 involving a new coach, new board, new director of football and new business structure.
Whatever the eventual break-up, the club is still very much dependent on AFL backing.
Melbourne also made a case to the AFL Commission in June in regards to receiving a priority pick, but few expect this to happen with other AFL clubs indicating they would be outraged if it were to occur.
However the AFL has set up a working party to make a recommendation to the Commission, which cannot make a call on the priority pick until after the season ends anyway.
Melbourne has won just two games in 2013 and lost to expansion clubs Greater Western Sydney and the Gold Coast Suns in the past two weeks.
It has not finished above 12th since 2006 and has had six coaches in that time. It sits 17th on the 2013 ladder after round 20.
