Moyes puts aside appeal of Scotland job to fulfil Everton brief

David Moyes is interested in leaving Everton and managing the Scottish national side but "not yet". The Toffees manager yesterday admitted coaching his national side would be a dream job but he would have to be "a little bit older and experienced".

Following Alex McLeish's departure as Scotland manager to take charge at Birmingham City, Moyes' name has been linked to the vacancy. He said: "One day I would like to manage Scotland. If I do well enough at Everton, maybe there will be an opportunity in the future but certainly not for a long period of time. I still feel I have only just come into management, I am one of the youngest about. But the national manager's job should be for someone a bit older and nearer the end of their time in management.

"Maybe they do not always want the day-to-day involvement, but I want that at Everton." Moyes takes his Everton side unbeaten in seven games to Portsmouth today in a match which could dictate whether either club is capable of competing for a European place.

The Scot was this week charged by the Football Association over remarks made about the referee, Mark Clattenburg, over his handling of the Merseyside derby earlier in the season. He has yet to decide whether to ask for a personal hearing and said: "The charge is very harsh. I do not think my comments are over the top."

l Terry Venables' chances of becoming the next manager of the Republic of Ireland have risen further with the appointment of Don Howe and Don Givens as the two "headhunters" who have been given the task of finding Stephen Staunton's replacement. Howe, now 72, was part of the England coaching set-up under Venables for Euro 96 while Givens knows Venables from his playing days at Queen's Park Rangers during the early 70s.