FC Twente Hopeful of Further Mcclaren Talks

The former England manager, Steve McClaren, has refused to confirm he is in the running for the vacant managerial position at the Dutch first division side FC Twente, despite the club claiming the two parties are in contact and will meet again ''within a few days''.

''We have shown him around and he was impressed,'' said the FC Twente chairman, Joop Munsterman. ''He now wants to think about it and after that we will have contact again.''

But McClaren, who was sacked in November last year following England's failure to qualify for the European Championships, was reluctant to admit talks were continuing.

''I've got no news on that,'' he said. ''I think the party line all the way along is that I want to get back into the game. I'm ready now, I'm fresh, and I'm recovered. I feel as if I've still got a lot to prove and a lot to give to football. Whether that is in this country or abroad, we'll have to wait and see.''

McClaren's refusal to confirm discussions will encourage speculation that he is holding out for an offer closer to home. An FC Twente spokesperson added: ''We haven't spoke about a contract yet, we only spoke about our thoughts about the club. For sure there will be a next meeting. It will be within a few days.''

McClaren was given a guided tour of the Eredivisie side's facilities on Tuesday, with Twente looking for a new manager to replace Fred Rutten, who has departed for the Bundesliga side Schalke.

Munsterman admitted that most FC Twente fans are sceptical about appointing an English coach. He said: ''Ninety percent think: why McClaren? But believe me, if he becomes our coach we will have a coach who is accustomed to working with top players and he can recognize them.''

Munsterman also claimed McClaren has confessed becoming England manager was a mistake: ''Looking back, he should never have become national team coach, he says now. He was too young for that task. He knows how to handle pressure and he is not afraid to take measures. He threw David Beckham out of the England squad. Well, then you have guts.''