Van Gaal interested in Fulham job

Louis Van Gaal has emerged as an unexpected addition to the shortlist of candidates to become Fulham's next manager.

The former Netherlands coach, out of work since leaving Barcelona earlier this year, has told Fulham he is interested and is prepared to talk to them about coming to the Premiership next season. His availability has reportedly made Fulham reconsider their original idea of finding a young British manager to take over from Jean Tigana.

The Frenchman yesterday held a crisis meeting with his players after several morale-sapping defeats revived fears of relegation. The Cottagers have been beaten 3-0 at Manchester United and 4-0 at home by Blackburn and are seven points above the bottom three.

The team captain Andy Melville said: "Jean called a meeting this morning and said it wasn't good enough. He wants to go out in the right way and make sure Fulham are still playing Premiership football next season. The main point of the meeting was that Jean's main concern is the club, not himself or individuals.

Unlike Tigana, who spent heavily on expensive imports, Van Gaal is willing to work with Fulham's existing squad and is prepared to accept a modest transfer budget. The only possible snag might be wages, with the former Ajax coach one of the game's big earners.

Fulham have already targeted Leicester's Micky Adams and Nottingham Forest's Paul Hart, but both are unable to talk to them until the end of their seasons.