Twelve FA Cup replays to settle this midweek including Man City v West Ham and Reading v Spurs. Click here for easyodds’ BestPrice coupon!

Newcastle United chairman Chris Mort has refused to rule out appointing a foreign manager amid reports the club may make an approach to Gerard Houllier.

The former Liverpool and France manager has emerged one of the front-runners in the race to succeed Sam Allardyce.

“This is a big job without having to operate through an interpreter,” Mort told the Newcastle website.

“There have been media suggestions that we would only appoint a British manager. That is not true.”

Newcastle have been compelled to widen their search for a new manager after Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp turned down a move to St James’ Park.

Reports have also suggested Houllier could potentially bring in Newcastle legend AlanShearer as his number two.

Houllier has worked at the FFF’s centre of excellence at Clairefontaine which has produced a conveyor belt of talent over the past 20 years.

“I would not stand in Gerard’s way if there was something else he wanted to do,” said FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalette. “I’m not surprised he gets offers.

“He turned down one or two to rejoin us – and they were better financially than we could offer him.”

Mort insisted the club’s next manager will be a long-term appointment who will be expected to produce attractive football.

“There are some clubs in the country where it is essential that the team generally tries to play football with some flair, and this is one of them,” he said.

“In the most difficult league in the world it is only the great managers that can combine that sort of style with winning.”

Twelve FA Cup replays to settle this midweek including Man City v West Ham and Reading v Spurs. Click here for easyodds’ BestPrice coupon!