Sam Torrance's successor as European Ryder Cup captain will be announced no earlier than May 22nd next year.
Ian Woosnam and Bernhard Langer are the favourites to take over for the contest at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan on September 26th-28th, 2004.
But with the qualifying period not starting until September 2003 and the qualifying process still to be decided, there is no rush to name American skipper Hal Sutton's opposite number.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that both Woosnam and Langer may still try and qualify to play on the 12-man team themselves.
If one of the pair succeeds, it has been suggested the other would be given the captaincy, with the non-qualifier as vice captain.
Torrance yesterday revealed there would definitely be changes to the qualification process.
The Scot's victorious team at the Belfry in September was made up of 10 automatic qualifiers from the Order of Merit-based points table, and two wild cards.
However, with more of Europe's top players spending more time on the USPGA tour, many leading figures - including 2006 captaincy candidates Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie - are in favour of changes.
The most likely option is for five players to be taken from the Order of Merit and five from the world rankings, with two wild cards.
PA