Australia seek full-time coach to replace Hiddink

Australia hope to appoint a full-time coach to replace Guus Hiddink when the Dutchman leaves the job after this year's World Cup in Germany.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) wants the new coach to spend a lot of his time in Australia, unlike Hiddink who is combining the role with coaching Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

"We are keen to have a national coach who is able to be full-time and in between the direct Socceroos commitments we would be looking to tap into his experience in all manner of ways," John Boultbee, the FFA's head of high performance, told reporters yesterday.

The Football Federation Australia, which has not ruled out hiring an Australian, said it would be happy for assistant coach Graham Arnold to lead the team in their opening Asian Cup qualifiers if necessary.

Russian contract

Hiddink, who guided Australia to a first World Cup appearance in 32 years, is poised to sign a four-year contract to lead Russia through to the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

"We are working out the minor details of the contract and when that is finished I will join them," he said on Monday.

His agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen told Dutch TV the contract will last two years with an option for two more. Hiddink is expected to be named as Russia coach within the next eight days.