Venables takes Australian job

Terry Venables accepted two jobs in one day yesterday when he announced that, in addition to taking over as Australian national coach, he would also become chairman of Portsmouth.

The former England coach was at his Kensington club, Scribes West, at lunchtime to explain that the lure of the next World Cup had persuaded him to take Soccer Australia's pounds 200,000-a-year offer.

"What interested me was the chance to be involved in international football again," Venables said. "I had two-and-a-half years with England, and really enjoyed it, and although I don't regret the decision I made there was a sense of frustration after Euro 96.

"I would have liked to finish the job I'd started properly and go to the World Cup. Now there's the possibility of that happening."

Venables added that he had accepted the Australian job - running for 19 months starting on 1 January - despite more lucrative approaches, presumably from club sides both in England and on the continent.

The new post will see him criss-crossing the continent to keep an eye on Australian players such as Mark Bosnich, Steve Corica and Ned Zelic who are playing in Europe, while enabling him to enjoy his first love of working with players in the training ground.

"I've had very big offers, much bigger than this, and it wasn't just the money situation, although I know it's a vast amount for a country like Australia," he said. "This is a big challenge, and a big reward if I can do it as well. Some people might say it's barmy, but I haven't started yet and my real concern is making sure that I do what I feel is right.

"I feel I've got a better group of players than most people think. And you've got to remember that before Euro 96 most people were saying that English players weren't good enough."

Venables then revealed that he would be moving from the director of football role into the shoes of old his friend Jim Gregory at Fratton Park.

"It was a possibility before that I would do that and Martin Gregory [Portsmouth's managing director] is for it, but it won't take away what I'm doing with Australia because from the beginning of the season I've only been there to give direction," he said. "It's been working quite well. I'll still help him as much as I can but getting onto the training ground has been difficult."

Pressed on whether he would really be able to spread his favours so wide, when he expects to spend "around 40 per cent" of his time down under, Venables was emphatic.

"How many chairmen go to the club every day?" he asked. "I haven't been to every game so far, but there's a good shape to the club and I'm there to help all parts of the club from the experience I have."

For Dave Hill, the Soccer Australia chief, the cachet of attracting Venables to the Socceroos' cause, and find a way of boosting crowds from a paltry average of 7,000, was clear.

"We were determined to have the best possible man Australia could muster, the best coach and the best leadership for the squad, and Terry is the best result we could've hoped for," Hill said.

Venables will fly out to Sydney next month, to begin planning his side's World Cup campaign. Those plans start with the Four Nations Cup in January, involving New Zealand, Norway and South Korea, with Venables watching his charges for the first time in Melbourne - probably against the Kiwis - on 18 January.

Australia begin their France 98 qualifying games in June, with six matches in a month against the likes of Tahiti and Fiji before - if successful - a two-legged November play-off against the fourth side in Asia.

Australian viewpoint, page 30