O'Brien has been widely tipped as the man to take the club forward after Brown's sudden departure amid speculation last week in the Sydney media that a deal had already been done with the former Melbourne Storm assistant coach.

He was formally interviewed for the job for the first time on Wednesday night in Newcastle and met the full Wests Group board, who will ultimately make the final call on the position.

But the Newcastle Herald can reveal O'Brien wasn't the first coaching target to be granted an interviewed.

Knights CEO Phil Gardner has confirmed former Canberra Raiders coach and Kangaroos assistant David Furner was interviewed and fronted the Wests board on Monday night, two days before O'Brien.

And Gardner claimed the club is hoping to also interview both Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo and Storm assistant Jason Ryles before making a final decision on Brown's replacement.

"I know Jason has already said he wouldn't be taking part in the process but we'll be reaching out to him again and also to Cameron Ciraldo," Gardner said.

"We'd like to interview them both. I'd like them to meet the board as well and that's the process we are going through.

"One of the problems we've had is the rumour mill in Sydney has been spruiking it is a done deal and that has stopped people putting their hand up. So we are going back to some of those personally who have declined and double-checking with them that they definitely don't want the opportunity for an interview. We want to make sure that anyone who thought it was a done deal knows that it isn't the case.

"When that's all done, if they put their hand up and want an opportunity, we will interview them. Ultimately, the decision on the coach will rest with the board. It will not be my decision."

Gardner said he could not have been more impressed with both Furner and O'Brien during the interview process.

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Furner spent almost five seasons as Raiders head coach, was assistant to Tim Sheens with the Kangaroos and assistant at the Cowboys and South Sydney.

O'Brien has no head coaching experience but is highly rated by everyone who has dealt with him and given his background with the Storm and the Roosters, is a product of the two best systems in the NRL.

"Both David Furner and Adam O'Brien were extremely impressive during the interview process and both have glowing references," he said.

"In David's case, Richo [Souths boss Shane Richardson] was glowing in his assessment of him and it was a similar situation with Craig [Bellamy] and Adam. I'm extremely happy with the calibre of people we are talking to.

"Jason [Ryles] has been to Newcastle with his family. We interviewed him for the assistant's role here at the end of last year and thought we had him so I know first hand what an impressive young man he is and obviously, Cameron is a former player at our club who we rate very highly and has done really well at Penrith.

"We'll get in touch with them both over the next few days to see where they are at. BC [director of football Brian Canavan] has done in-depth assessments on all the candidates for the board's benefit so we'll see where that takes us.

"We've consulted widely and spoken to a lot of people. We are obviously not approaching head coaches under contract but like I said, we are really confident of coming up with the right person to take our club forward.

"Once we do, we'll be in a position to make an announcement."

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