Gerard Houllier is saying nothing on speculation linking him with the vacant manager’s job at Aston Villa.
Reports suggest that the former Liverpool boss has been interviewed by the powers that be who are looking to replace Martin O’Neill, and there is also speculation that he could be brought in in a Director of Football role, with caretaker boss Kevin McDonald possibly set to be given the manager’s job, with Steve Staunton as his assistant.
The Frenchman is currently in England to attend Jamie Carragher’s Liverpool testimonial against an Everton XI on Saturday, but – while not ruling himself out of a role at Villa Park – he was certainly not committing to anything when quizzed.
"Never and always are two words you can't use in football," the Press Association quotes the man, who led Liverpool to a Uefa Cup and League Cup treble in 2001, as saying.
He currently works as a technical director for the French Football Federation and has also managed Lyon since leaving Liverpool six years ago.
Meanwhile, former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has become the latest to throw his hat into the ring to become the next Villa boss.
The 46-year-old, who led Italy to the quarter finals of Euro 2008, has been out of work since leaving Napoli last October. But his UK representative, Charles Collymore, said on Saturday that he had applied for the Villa Park vacancy.
"Roberto is a great student of the English game and he is very interested in the job at Aston Villa," Collymore told Sky Sports.
"He knows Villa are a top club with an ambitious owner and he feels he could be a success there.
"Roberto has worked at the highest level and he has always dreamed of coaching in England.
"Roberto has the experience and talent to help develop the best young English talent and also the knowledge to help find the best foreign talent available."