Venables to resume talks

TERRY VENABLES will resume talks with Australian soccer chiefs today in a bid to realise his World Cup dream. The former England manager last night admitted that he is in the running to become coach of Australia's national team, although an official source was still insisting that he faces competition from the likes of Howard Wilkinson, Jack Charlton and Johan Cruyff.

Venables said: "I am speaking with them again tomorrow and we will see what happens. But, as I'm in the midst of talking, then I don't really want to say much more at this point in time."

Venables was quoted in a Sunday tabloid as claiming that he was moving closer to his ambition of leading a team into the World Cup finals, saying that he was "99 per cent in position" to accept an offer from the Australians to succeed Eddie Thomson.

But while officials of governing body Soccer Australia have admitted that chairman David Hill has spoken with Venables, they say that the former Barcelona, Tottenham and QPR manager is on a list of possible candidates that also includes Wilkinson, Charlton and Cruyff.

Soccer Australia spokesman Steve Speziale said: "There's no denying that David has spoken with Venables, but he's also spoken with Jack Charlton, Johan Cruyff and told me today that he had dinner with Howard Wilkinson last night."

Speziale revealed that, while Venables was "very interested" in the Australian job, a deal was yet to be finalised.

He added: "I have spoken with David Hill this morning and his comment at this stage is quite simply that we've got nothing to say."

Venables, who quit the England post after this year's European Championship finals and recently became director of football at first division Portsmouth, says he has held lengthy talks with Hill. He said: "I couldn't be more upbeat. The job offers me one thing I have always wanted to be involved in a World Cup. I wanted it with England, but it wasn't to be. In the circumstances the offer from Australia is exciting.

"There are a couple of details to be sorted out, but I don't see any major problem. I hope and believe everything will be finalised very quickly."

Venables, whose contract with Australia would be worth £200,000 a year, a £70,000 increase on his time in charge with England, could be appointed under a novel job sharing scheme that would allow him to spend most of his time in Europe and monitor the form of Australian players there in the lead up to the 1998 World Cup.

Australia has over 100 overseas based players, including Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich and Lazio sweeper Paul Okon, while a locally based coach would also be appointed to take charge of players drawn from the country's domestic league.

However, the man who led England close to ultimate Euro 96 glory just a few months ago, has a number of battles on his hands if he is to realise his dream.

Former Leeds boss Wilkinson is the kind of man who would relish the challenge of the international stage, while former Republic manager Charlton and exBarcelona boss Cryuff would also come into the big name category that Soccer Australia have targeted as they try to fill the void made by Thomson's defection to Hiroshima in Japan's J League.