Fulham coach Chris Coleman today ruled himself out of the running to succeed the departing Jean Tigana, insisting he was too inexperienced for the job.
Coleman, 32, will become the senior member of the Cottagers' backroom staff when boss Tigana, assistant Christian Damiano and fitness coach Roger Propos leave on the expiry of their contracts on June 30.
Coleman has enjoyed rapid promotion at the club since his enforced retirement in October following a 21-month fitness battle after breaking his right leg in a car crash.
The former Wales international, who won 32 caps, started working with the under-15s and under-17s but within a month had joined the first-team set-up and was put in charge of delivering pre-match team-talks.
He has been widely touted as half of a potential managerial double act with Fulham's veteran midfielder John Collins - who has confirmed his interest in the job.
However, asked if he would throw his hat into the ring, Coleman told the Press Association: "No, I'm not ready to be a manager.
"One day, yes - and maybe that's in the not too far distant future.
"But I'd have to have an incredibly big ego to think I'd be able to do a job as big as this. And my ego's not that big.
"Managing any club is a big job - especially in Premiership - and this job's too big for me."
Tigana ironically tipped Coleman for a big future in management when he former centre-back announced his retirement, saying: "Chris has the possibility to manage at a high level because he's a leader."
However, Tigana's imminent exit means Coleman's future as a coach with Fulham, who he joined from Blackburn in 1997, now hangs on whether the new manager rates his ability as highly as the Frenchman does.
"I'm not stupid and I know things can change very quickly in football," added Coleman.
"I'd like to stay as coach but I don't know whether I'll be part of the plans for the future.
"I'll sit down with the club at a later date and decide what's best for the club.
"I had been planning to stay as a youth-team coach but the manager fetched me into the first-team staff quicker than expected.
"It was the manager's choice to bring me in to work alongside him - but now everything's come out about him not extending his contract and he's going at end of the season."
Coleman can take heart from the fact chairman Mohamed al Fayed is a known admirer of him.
Chief executive Bruce Langham has said: "I know our chairman has the greatest respect for Chris' drive, enthusiasm and commitment."
PA