By Simon Stone, PA Sport

OEHRINGEN: Gerard Houllier is still in talks with Australian officials over the job of succeeding Guus Hiddink as national team boss. Hiddink will quit after the World Cup to take charge of Russia and Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy is desperate to secure a big-name replacement. Martin O'Neill's name has also been linked with the post, which would require the successful candidate to spend six months of the year Down Under helping with the development of the game and watching matches in the revamped A-League. FFA chief executive John O'Neill confirmed discussions are currently on hold until after the World Cup and admitted a new appointment was unlikely to be made until after the August 16 Asian Cup qualifier with Kuwait, when current assistant Graham Arnold will be in charge.

“Talks are continuing with Gerard Houllier, as they are with a number of interested parties,” said O'Neill. “But we don't want anything to distract the team from what is happening on the pitch at the moment and I doubt very much we will have someone in post by the Kuwait game.” With interest in football at an all-time high Down Under, O'Neill talked optimistically of an Australian bid to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. However, his hopes of getting all the Socceroos back Down Under for a ticker-tape parade in Sydney prior to the Kuwait game seem certain to fail as Premiership clubs are unlikely to let players undertake such an arduous journey three days before the start of the new season.