Gascoigne eyes Australian job

Gascoigne had a spell at Boston earlier this term

Paul Gascoigne is one of five Englishmen reportedly in the frame to manage Newcastle Jets in Australia's inaugural A-League.

Newcastle have confirmed former England midfielder Gascoigne has applied, and reports suggest David Platt, David Pleat and Ian Porterfield have too.

Terry Venables, who used to manage Gascoigne for Tottenham and England, remains the Jets' first choice.

A-League rivals Perth Glory have lined up Terry Fenwick or John Hollins.

Multi-millionaire Con Constantine owns the Jets and he has made no secret of the fact that Venables is his first choice.

But the ex-England manager appears to have gone off the idea of a return to the country whose national team he once managed.

Now Gascoigne, who once saw Venables as a mentor, could take advantage.

"We have received an application from Paul Gascoigne, along with several other big names," said Constantine.

"But until I hear 100% whether Terry is coming or not, nothing will happen."

Gascoigne has never managed a club, although earlier this season he held a player-coach role at Boston United.

Platt's last role was England Under-21 coach, and he previously managed Nottingham Forest, while in the summer David Pleat left Tottenham after six years as director of football.