Interim Malaysia coach Ong Kim Swee believes he has a 50 percent chance of getting the job on a fulltime basis.
Ong, who took over as caretaker boss from Dollah Salleh in September, oversaw a respectable 2-1 defeat in Tuesday night's AFC 2018 World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates.
The Gulf state defeated the Malaysians 10-0 in an earlier qualifier, which led to the resignation of Dollah as head coach.
Ong, 44, has overseen two victories and three defeats in his five matches in charge. The wins were a 3-1 result against Laos in a friendly and a 1-0 away win in a World Cup qualifier against Timor-Leste last month.
But he admits that a 6-0 defeat to Palestine last week has reduced his chances of continuing in the role in 2016.
"We need to be realistic about our national team," Ong told New Straits Times. "Before the 6-0 defeat to Palestine, I had a 75 percent chance of getting the coaching job but after that match, I think it has dropped to 50 percent.
"I will accept if FAM tell me to go. I accepted the interim position after the resignation of Dollah because I wanted the challenge."
With only four points from seven games, Malaysia have no chance of advancing to the third round of World Cup qualifying or securing an automatic place in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Fourth in the five-team group, their final qualifier will be against Saudi Arabia in Damman on March 26.
Ong urged FAM to organise more games for the national team in 2016 ahead of more Asian Cup qualifiers and November's AFF Suzuki Cup.
"In my proposal, I recommended 20 international games next year," he said. "Only time will help them improve. These players need more international matches with better teams.
"We can match the best teams in Asia at home but we tend to lose focus and self-belief in away games."
The list of applicants for the Malaysia coaching job has grown to 70, with ex-Cardiff boss Dave Jones among those interested, according to sources. The Football Association of Malaysia will make an appointment for the senior national team and the under-23 side by the end of next month.