The consequences of France's World Cup humiliation dragged on yesterday as soccer chiefs continued to agonise over their team's coaching dilemma.

The French Soccer Federation (FFF), facing Roger Lemerre's refusal to resign despite the defending champions' shock first-round exit in South Korea and Japan, initially said that a decision on his future would be announced next weekend at a FFF council meeting in Lyon.

But FFF president Claude Simonet told soccer weekly France Football that a decision could be postponed until July 26.

A decision over the future of Lemerre, who took over from Aime Jacquet after the 1998 World Cup and led France to the European Championship two years later, has been delayed by his adamant refusal to step down - and the FFF's reluctance to sack him.

Meanwhile, leading French soccer personalities have been queuing up to join the succession debate.

Simonet himself made it clear in France Football that he was in favour of former Paris SG manager Jean-Francois Domergue, who last season took Le Havre back to the first division.

But the FFF president did not convince former French manager Michel Platini, with whom he had long talks in recent weeks and who believes Domergue is "a little inexperienced".

Domergue, 45, is also bound with Le Havre until 2006.

Platini, widely consulted by FFF authorities about the current succession crisis, has championed Jacques Santini, who resigned as Lyon manager after taking them to their first French title last season.

But Santini, with whom Platini played at St Etienne, is known for his aloof character and his reluctance to talk to the press.

Lemerre's lack of communication was one of the many things which antagonised his critics.