Former Japan manager Philippe Troussier has admitted that he held talks with Town over the vacant manager's position. However, the Frenchman says he will not take up any managerial post until early next year.

Troussier says that there has been substantial interest in him since he left the Japan job after the World Cup: "I have had a lot of contact with both clubs and national teams.

"There were Morocco, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, China, Croatia, Sunderland, Ipswich and Standard Liege.

None seemed to be to his taste and after a spell away he has had surgery which he says will keep him out of action for a while: "After a few weeks on holiday, I came back to Paris to have my knee operated on.

"This operation will prevent me from putting my foot on the ground for one-and-a-half months, and will need about three months of convalescence.

"So I will be back on the market around mid-January."

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