Liverpool have denied claims that Jean Tigana will take over from Gerard Houllier as manager next season.

Houllier, who is still recuperating from last October’s heart operation, is set to return as first-team coach in a few weeks, though a specific date has not yet been set.

Frechman’s contract runs until 2005, and Houllier clearly intends to honour it.

Liverpool have made it known that stories linking Houllier with a role away from management do little to help the recovering manager or the club.

Tigana will be as stunned as Liverpool to learn he was linked with the job. Reports had indicated he was in talks at Anfield on Wednesday, but Tigana was in fact at the Fulham training ground.

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