The Times says Jol is holding out for an opportunity to take charge of Holland when Marco van Basten steps down after the European Championship finals next summer. Jol is considered among the favourites for the post after being spoken to twice by the Dutch Football Association in recent weeks.

Jol has other considerations to take into account. If he were to take another managerial job so soon after he was dismissed by Tottenham, his severance package of £4.7 million would be reduced. And despite apparently wanting to manage a leading club in the Netherlands, he now seems keener to take charge of another Barclays Premier League side, if he misses out on the Holland job.