Soccer-Venables plays down Ireland Job Rumours

DUBLIN, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Terry Venables, the bookmakers' favourite to be the next Ireland manager, denied on Wednesday that he had been approached about the job or applied for it.

Odds on Venables succeeding the recently-deposed Brian Kerr were slashed after heavy betting on the former England and Tottenham Hotspur coach on Tuesday.

Betting firm Ladbrokes closed its book on Venables and Paddy Power cut its odds to 1/4 from 13/2.

However, Venables played down the rumours.

"I have not been approached for the Republic of Ireland job and I have not applied for it," he told Sky Sports News.

The Football Association of Ireland said it would not be commenting before a decision on Kerr's replacement had been made. "The process is ongoing," a spokeswoman said.

Venables started his professional career as a player with Chelsea in 1960 and played for Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace before retiring to take over the manager's role there.

He later managed Barcelona, where he earned the nickname El Tel, Tottenham Hotspur, and England whose team he guided to the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championship before losing to eventual winners Germany on penalties.

He also coached Australia, Leeds and Middlesbrough.

Kerr, who took over from Mick McCarthy as Ireland manager in early 2003, was dropped last month after his side failed to qualify for next year's World Cup finals in Germany.