According to reports, Frenchman Paul Le Guen is favourite to succeed Pim Verbeek as the next coach of the Australian team. Le Guen is coaching Cameroon at the World Cup in South Africa and Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy has confirmed the new Australian national coach would soon be finalised.

The Sydney Morning Herald said Le Guen, the former coach of Paris Saint-Germain and Glasgow Rangers, was the front-runner and if appointed would end a run of Dutch coaches in charge of the national team.

Although not confirming that the former French international Le Guen was at the top of the list, Lowy told the newspaper: "Let me say this. Is the coach coming from the 31 countries that are here (in South Africa)? Yes." "It needs to be a very deliberate process. If we make the wrong decision, it could affect us for a long time," he said.

"It would be good to find a coach with enough experience to bring the youngsters through, the players we need for the next World Cup," Lowy said.

Lowy said he would prefer the new coach lived in Australia, rather than be based overseas, as has been the case with both Verbeek and his predecessor, Guus Hiddink.

"It's very important the new coach fits into the Australian scene, understands the mentality, understands the country and gets to know the players that are coming through," he said.

"We would like the coach to spend more time in Australia. That's preferable, definitely, but it's not a deal-breaker."