Trapattoni blow for Spurs

Tottenham's plans for their new management dream team of Giovanni Trapattoni and Mark Hughes appeared to be in doubt today.

The Italian national coach went public for the first time about his future by indicating he wanted to stay with the Italian FA in some role after Euro 2004.

And Hughes denied he or his representatives had been in talks with Spurs.

Trapattoni's contract with Italy runs out in the summer and he has been subject to heavy criticism since it was revealed by Standard Sport that he was the club's No1 target and that he had been offered the job by the White Hart Lane club.

The Italian FA were believed to have been furious their coach had been discussing his future privately although the Spurs offer would have doubled his current £600,000 a year salary.

Trapattoni has remained silent since his agent confirmed he was in talks with Spurs, but today he told the Italian newspaper La Republica: 'I want to stay within the federation.' Meanwhile, Hughes denies he has been approached by Spurs to be the Italian's No2.

The proposal would allow the former Manchester United and Chelsea striker to stay in charge of Wales and guide them through qualifying for the 2006 World Cup on a part-time basis.

The principality are in England's group and Hughes has a contract as manager until after the finals in Germany. He admitted that he considered his position after Wales failed to qualify for Euro 2004 and he has been open about his long-term ambitions to manage at club level.