Feyenoord coach Bert van Marwijk has hinted he is ready to succeed Marco van Basten as Holland coach after opening talks with the KNVB.
Van Basten will step down after this summer's Euro 2008 finals, with Van Marwijk the number one contender to replace him.
The 55-year-old would be reluctant to leave the Rotterdammers after just one year at the helm in his second stint, not least because of the experienced players who have joined the club to link up with him as coach.
But he reckons he would have the players' backing if he was to leave De Kuip to become national team coach.
Van Marwijk told De Telegraaf: "That is a question that has kept me busy for quite some time already.
"When I hear the players I think that they regret that I will go, but that they also wish me well.
"They give me the impression that I can go. And that does me good. In general, I always serve out my contracts. But I want to grab this chance at Oranje."
The former Borussia Dortmund coach has been linked with the Holland post in the past, but insists he was not ready for the role then whereas he is now.
"Then I wasn't ready for the job," he said.
"Now I am, I find. I realise that I could very well become the fall guy in Holland as coach of Oranje. I won't walk away because of that, though."
. It has brought Feyenoord nothing good so far. 
