20.01.2015 14:57 h

Wilkins wants extended deal as Jordan coach

Ray Wilkins insisted he wanted to continue as Jordan coach after his side were dumped out of the Asian Cup by defending champions Japan on Tuesday.

The Englishman said he had "no idea" whether Jordan FA chief Prince Ali bin Al Hussein would offer him a contract extension after signing a short-term deal last September, admitting that he could go down as one of the country's worst-ever coaches.

"I'd love to stay," Wilkins told reporters after Jordan's 2-0 defeat by Japan in Melbourne. "(But) I've no idea. I've thoroughly enjoyed the experience, it's been first class. But it's entirely up to Prince Ali."

The former Fulham and Queens Park Rangers manager has failed to arrest an alarming slide in Jordan's fortunes and the 5-1 drubbing of Palestine in their second Asian Cup game was their first win in 12, having scored just three goals in their previous 11 matches.

"I will speak with Prince Ali when I arrive back in Jordan," said Wilkins. "Unfortunately my record is not the best. In actual fact, it's pretty poor. I don't know whether I'll go down as the worst Jordan coach in history but I've certainly given it a blast to try and make it work."

The 58-year-old had a lively Asian Cup, blasting organisers after a botched doping test made one of his players sick, ruling him out of the clash with Palestine.

He was then involved in a finger-pointing row with over-zealous security officials after they refused to allow him to enter the stadium in Melbourne for his own press conference because he had left his accreditation at the team hotel.

Wilkins refused to rule out managing in Australia's A-League but felt he had unfinished business in Jordan.

"It's always very pleasant (to be linked to jobs) but I've got to say if I was offered to stay in Jordan, then I would stay in Jordan," he said.

"It's always nice to work, no matter where you're working. It's always nice to be involved with young men because it keeps you young. Apart from the (bald) hairline, I feel very young and youthful and I feel full of energy."

Wilkins summed up Jordan's Asian Cup flop with typical bluntness, blaming their 1-0 loss to Iraq in their Group D opener.

"The expectation was to go further than we've ever been before so that would've been the semi-finals," he said. "Unfortunately we didn't reach that. The Iraq game really killed us. Having to play Japan last, it was always going to be a very tall order."