Curbishley plays down Fulham chances

Curbishley remains among the favourites for the job (GETTY IMAGES)

Alan Curbishley feels he is unlikely to be offered the chance to return to Barclays Premier League management with Fulham.

The former Charlton and West Ham boss was touted as an early favourite to replace Roy Hodgson after he joined Liverpool, but it now appears both Sven-Goran Eriksson and Mark Hughes are more likely candidates for the vacancy at Craven Cottage.

Curbishley, 52, left Upton Park during September 2008 after falling out with the then Icelandic owners over the sale of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Sunderland against his wishes, and subsequently won a case for constructive dismissal, which included damages reported to be more than £2million.

However, Curbishley - who performed wonders during his 15-year stint at Charlton and was interviewed for the England job in 2006 - admits he is now unsure when he will return to the game.

"I was told I was on the [Fulham] shortlist but that there were a couple of people ahead of me, so I knew that was going nowhere," Curbishley said in the London Evening Standard.

"I have got to wait and see if the phone rings.

"If you look at my career, my average position in the Premier League is 10th, so that is where I need to be looking.

"No offence to anyone else, but the Premier League is where everyone wants to be.

"I will maybe have to reposition myself. Who knows? Start over again, if I have to.

"It [West Ham] has damaged me a bit, because I have been out for a while, and it is hard to come back if you are away for too long."

Following Hodgson's departure, several of the players who helped Fulham reach the Europa League final last season have been linked with moves away from Craven Cottage, including Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer who is said to be wanted by Arsenal.