Former Mahindra footballer and coach Harish Rao, AIFF's director of competitions Anil Kamath, Ian Stillie, a former chief executive of Scottish first division club Motherwell, and Dhar are among the five candidates short-listed for the post of I-League chief executive.

Olympian Syed Shahid (S.S.) Hakeem, who applied for both the posts, is the most noted name to be left out.

The candidates will be called for the interview next month and will be appointed after the Nehru Cup beginning August 18.