SOCCER/News:Amid reports Gerard Houllier has suggested Jean Tigana to the FAI recruitment panel as a possible successor for Steve Staunton, it looks likely the former Liverpool man himself is no longer a serious contender for the post.

Houllier's level of interest in the job has been a major point of interest both here and in France. Despite having been linked with the South Korea, Australia and Newcastle United jobs, however, the 60-year-old has studiously declined to comment on whether he might leave his post as technical director with the French Federation.

Over the weekend, though, his one-time assistant at Liverpool, Christian Damiano, who remains a close friend, told L'Equipe that he has been in regular contact with Houllier and that he has the strong impression the former Lyon boss will not be moving.

That Tigana might steal in to get the job seems equally unlikely. The 52-year-old has a decent record in management, having done well in particular at Monaco, but he has been dogged by questions over transfer dealings. Only last week he was questioned by French police in relation to a number of deals.

Terry Venables, meanwhile, remains the favourite to land the Ireland job, although a number of other candidates continue to be linked to the post, with Glenn Hoddle being mentioned again yesterday.

At the end of last week Lawrie Sanchez and Billy Davies had still to be interviewed by Don Givens, Don Howe and Ray Houghton.

The FAI believed last week that a board meeting would be convened to hear the committee's recommendation for the job before the Brazil game next Wednesday and that the successful candidate would be in a position to attend the game, but with John Delaney and David Blood due to attend Uefa meetings from Thursday to Saturday of this week, that timeframe is starting to look extremely tight.