Houllier rules out Newc job

Jean-Pierre Escalettes, the president of the French Football Federation, has ruled Gerard Houllier out of the vacant Newcastle job. Houllier has given the FFF his word he will continue with the job as technical director.

FFF president Escalettes said: "I talked to Gerard by telephone - he is on business for us in the United States at the moment - and he told me 'every time an English club is in difficulty my name comes up'.

"Gerard's word is enough for me. He is at the DTN (technical director) and works for us.

"Gerard had an extraordinary image in England, I'm flattered to hear his name all over the place, I tell myself we made the right choice; everyone wants to have him."