While Plymouth Argyle continue to prepare a shortlist of candidates for their managerial vacancy without divulging any on-the-record information about who might be in serious contention, speculation about possible new bosses at Home Park continues to appear.

Bryan Robson and Gerry Francis are the latest names to be given a passing mention. The two experienced campaigners are "being mentioned in footballing circles" in connection with the Argyle job, according to a Sunday newspaper.

There have to be serious doubts about the likelihood of the relegated Pilgrims being able to afford any manager who has been used to Premier League salaries and playing budgets, but Robson is now working a long way away from home in an Asian outpost.

He also knows Plymouth head coach Paul Mariner, which would be an advantage if the Argyle board is serious about its stated intention to bring in an experienced manager to work with Mariner.

The former Manchester United and England midfielder is currently the coach of Thailand's national team. He has not been able to taste much success in the job, which he took on when it was relinquished by Peter Reid last year.

The Thais were beaten 4-0 by South Africa in a friendly away to the World Cup hosts yesterday, having also lost their previous three matches.

Robson might be willing to listen to offers of a return to England, even from a club of Plymouth's diminished status. Argyle chairman Sir Roy Gardner, a former Manchester United plc chairman, is someone whom Robson might be willing to listen to.

Robson has extensive managerial experience in England, having had spells in charge of Middlesbrough, Bradford City, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United. It is, however, 12 years since he achieved the last of his two promotion triumphs, both with Boro.

Robson is 53, five years younger than Gerry Francis, who has also been linked with the Pilgrims this weekend. The former Queen's Park Rangers and England midfielder began his managerial career in Devon with Exeter City in 1983, and went on to take charge of Bristol Rovers, Queen's Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur. He is at present working for former Argyle manager Tony Pulis as first-team coach at Stoke City.

Argyle executive director Keith Todd has told the Western Morning News that the Pilgrims are aiming to appoint a manager with significant experience in the second and third tiers of English football. They might need to look further afield, though, if they are not impressed by the available candidates who fit the bill.

Another Englishman who is at present working in Asia might just feature once again in the discussions being held by Argyle's directors about their job vacancy. Bob Houghton, it is understood, was briefly considered as a potential replacement for former Argyle boss Paul Sturrock last year.

The wily 62-year-old has not managed in English football since he left Bristol City 28 years ago, but he has put together a fine body of work overseas. He took Malmo to the European Cup final in 1979, when the Swedish side were beaten by Nottingham Forest.

Houghton has also coached club sides in Greece, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and the United States. He has been an international coach since 1997, with China, Uzbekistan and, at present, India. He has had his differences with the All India Football Federation, but remains in the job – for now – despite reports of his resignation being published in India earlier this month.

Argyle's apparent insistence on seeking an experienced manager should, one would think, rule out any consideration being given to one of Robson's ex- Manchester United team- mates, but rumours about the Pilgrims having made some sort of approach to Peter Schmeichel have emerged from within the club in recent weeks. The former Denmark goalkeeper, who now has a television career in his homeland, has no coaching experience.