West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley has cooled talk that former Liverpool coach Paco Ayesteran is to become his club's new technical director.

The Londoners have made no secret of their desire to create the role, and Spaniard Ayesteran - who left Anfield earlier this season - was strongly linked with the position this week.

But Curbishley, 50 yesterday, insists West Ham are only in the early stages of the selection process - and denies that the new man will affect his control of the first-team squad.

Curbishley said: "We've discussed the situation and we're coming up with a brief for what the job entails.

"No one has been in the frame, or even talked about. We're hoping to push on with a new stadium and training ground, and we need someone who can deal with it."