 17 Nov 1996 AUSSIES COOL ON VENABLES' JOB CLAIMAustralian officials remained tight-lipped today on claims that they have all but appointed Terry Venables as national coach but they admitted they were negotiating with the former England boss. Soccer Australia chairman David Hill is in England to find a replacement for Eddie Thomson and he has spoken to Venables at length. Venables, who quit as England coach after Euro 96, has strongly indicated he would take the job worth £200,000 a year but Soccer Australia officials claim that British press reports saying he had signed a contract were premature. ``I have spoken with David Hill today and his comment at this stage is quite simply that we've got nothing to say,'' said press officer Steve Speziale. ``When a deal is sealed we'll be in a position to say something, but at this stage nothing is finalised.'' Speziale added that Hill had also spoken to Johan Cruyff, Jack Charlton and former Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson. But Venables reckons the job is 99 per cent his, saying: ``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,'' he told the News of the World. ``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.'' And now he has eyes set on a potential World Cup showdown with England in France in 1998. He added: ``My job would be to ensure Australia qualify for the finals. ``That's a huge incentive for me. The thought of achieving that and then meeting England well, that would be something special.'' Venables, presently director of football with first division strugglers Portsmouth, said he would spend four months a year in Australia and the rest of the time watching the country's players across the world.
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