Venables turns down Australian club job

Terry Venables has turned down the chance to coach Australian team Newcastle United Jets.

The former England coach, who narrowly failed to take the Australia national team into the 1998 World Cup finals, had held talks with the A-League club.

Club owner Con Constantine had insisted in September that Venables would “definitely” take charge of Newcastle, but his agent Leon Angel has ruled out any position.

“Things can always change in life, but as we are today it is 100% not happening,” Angel told the Sydney Sun-Herald newspaper. “We want to make it categorically clear that he is not coming.”

Angel confirmed that Venables had been talking with Remo Nogarotto, the Jets’ director of football operations, but had never confirmed he would take up a role at Newcastle.

“Terry did have talks with Newcastle United a while ago, but at no time had he agreed to a deal,” said Angel. “I don’t understand why people are saying that he had.”

Angel said that although Venables was not involved with coaching at present, he had several ongoing property development ventures in Britain and Europe, as well as regular media commitments in Britain, which ruled out a move to Australia.

“Terry has been, and still is, quite keen on Australia, but he’s not able to come because he has a number of other commitments,” said Angel.

“The timetable for the league has kept changing as well. First of all it was December and now it seems nothing will be happening until next June.”