AFC Wimbledon won’t rush Neal Ardley back to the dugout for Friday’s visit of Northampton Town unless he declares himself ready.
The Dons manager underwent a hip operation last week and left assistant manager Neil Cox and first-team coach Simon Bassey to take charge at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
Bayo Akinfewa’s 15th goal of the season looked to have been enough to give the Dons their first away victory of 2015.
However, on-loan Everton youngster George Green produced late fireworks to pick up what could be a vital draw for the relegation-threatened Rovers.
It means the Dons have now taken just 4 points from a possible 27 on the road this year and leaves them seven points off Plymouth in the final end-of-season shootout spot.
Kingsmeadow has proven a happier hunting ground and the Cobblers visit town on Good Friday as Ardley continues his rehabilitation.
The Dons chief is likely to be confined to crutches for the next couple of weeks and Cox says the club will not be asking him to return to work until he feels he is fit to do so.
Cox said after the Tranmere stalemate: “He wasn’t here. I spoke to him this morning and I think he was listening on the radio.
“It’s a good job I’m here and he isn’t going in to see the referee.
“He’ll be disappointed because we came here to win the game and that’s what I tried to do by playing two up front.
“We’ll have to wait and see (if he will return on Friday). We need to get this game out of the way and the boys need to rest up for a couple of days and the gaffer needs to rest.
“He’ll be in when is ready. All of the rest of the staff have been brilliant and we’ve all got on with everything. It’s been superb.
“The lads will be disappointed but we’ll go again.”
Meanwhile, stand-in boss Cox was furious with the referee’s decision not to award the Dons a late penalty for a foul on Ade Azeez at Prenton Park.
Cox made his thoughts known post-match and joked it was probably best that the absent Ardley wasn’t able to give the officials a piece of his mind.
