Could Aussie Guus be the man again for the top job? A LOCAL successor to Socceroos coach Holger Osieck remains Football Federations preferred option, even as senior sources have confirmed the approaches to Guus Hiddink and other highly credentialed international coaches. As The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday, discreet contact has been made to Guus Hiddink and Marcelo Bielsa as FFA examines all options in the event that Osieck is shown the door in the wake of the imminent friendlies with France and Canada. The German has been made aware of the situation, with significantly improved performances demanded by his employers after the Socceroos were humiliated 6-0 by Brazil. In an ideal world FFA chiefs would prefer to appoint an Australian coach to succeed Osieck, whether immediately or after the World Cup, with internal discussions at FFA having identified Ange Postecoglou and Graham Arnold as the only appropriate candidates. Tony Popovic is seen as too inexperienced after just one season as head coach of the Wanderers. Arnold has the experience of a decade working with the Socceroos, while Postecoglou has an array of admirers for the attacking verve - and success - he found at Brisbane, before starting the rebuilding of Melbourne Victory. There is however no certainty either would accept the offer if it came in the wake of the forthcoming friendlies against France and Canada on October 11 and 15, and the FFA hierarchy is also sensitive to the effect on the A-League of removing one of its most senior coaches. It's widely accepted that combining a club job and preparing the national team for the World Cup would be impossible, despite Hiddink remaining as coach of PSV Eindhoven in the build-up to the 2006 tournament. Determined not to be caught on the hop if Osieck is relieved of his duties, FFA officials have canvassed the availability of a number of coaches. With characteristic acuity, the 66-year-old Hiddink's agent has made clear he will decide on his next career move once the draw for the World Cup finals has been made in December, and it's known who any prospective employer will be up against. Retirement seems unlikely after he wrote in a Dutch newspaper column: "When I worked in Spain, I said that I would continue for up to two years - that was in 1998 .... After two years, I just continued. Even now I keep that option open. As long as I have energy and am not an old man, it remains an option to do something in football.