Steele announced his resignation last month after he was headhunted to be the new chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, where he will oversee England's preparations to host the 2015 World Cup.

Steele, who, as director of rugby at Northampton Saints, led them to the Heineken Cup title in 2000, is due to step down at the end of this month to take over at Twickenham.

UK Sport began advertising for a replacement on June 16 and by the deadline for applying for the role, which carries with it a six-figure salarly, closed on July 5 they had received 48 applications.

A spokesman told insidethegames: "The recruitment consultants and [UK Sport chair] Sue Campbell are extremely pleased with the quality.

"The next step is first round interviews in the last week of July."

The successful candidate will be responsible for investing over £100 million ($148 million) per annum in Britain's best Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including in the build-up to London 2012.

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