EINDHOVEN - PSV Eindhoven director Jan Reker insists Martin Jol was not the club's first choice for the long-term coaching vacancy accepted by Huub Stevens on Monday.
Hamburg coach Stevens has signed an agreement with the club to take over at the end of the season, bringing to an end a long-running saga that has seen Reker publicly state his desire to see Jol or FC Twente coach Fred Rutten fill the void left by Ronald Koeman's departure for Valencia.
Both duly rejected the opportunity, with Jol citing issues with his compensation package from Tottenham, and Rutten not willing to walk out on his club.
But Reker is adamant Jol was not top of his wish-list.
Instead, the director, who admitted his regret at making his thoughts public, claims his early move for Jol was motivated by the Dutchman's availability above anything else.
He said: "I had every confidence that things would go well with Jol.
"That is the reason why I was so open. Looking back it would have been better to talk to the media after the new coach had put his signature on a contract.
"But that doesn't mean that Jol was our first option. We first went to Jol because he was the only coach on the list who was without a club.
"Jol told us that he could decide fast, but issues with his contract with Spurs proved to be too big a problem.
"First it was that it will take two days, after that four days and at a certain point it became clear that it was totally unknown when clarity would come. Because of that we continued our search."
Stevens will move to the Dutch champions in June 2008 and said personal reasons were behind his decision to cross the border.
"Personal reasons have led to my decision. When I go to Eindhoven, I can spend more time with my family."
PSV have been without a coach since Koeman quit the post last month.
Jan Wouters took over on an interim basis and will remain in charge until January when Sef Vergoossen and his assistant Dwight Lodeweges assume control through the rest of the season.
Vergoossen and Lodeweges have agreed to move to the Dutch club after leaving Japanese side Grampus Eight.
"They will end the cup competition in Japan first and we will see them in January at the latest," said Reker on the club's official website, www.psv.nl.
"Vergoossen will stay with PSV when Stevens joins us. He will hopefully help bring through some young players."
