Curbishley has been at Charlton for over 12 years

The 45-year-old has emerged as the bookies' favourite to take the reins at White Hart Lane, despite Charlton chairman Richard Murray's insistence he will block any move for Curbishley.

Murray attempted to ward off any potential interest last week when he suggested it would cost Spurs �5m in compensation, but Curbishley is keeping his options open.

"I could categorically say I am not interested, I could categorically say I would be interested if I did get offered it - until something gives we won't know either way," he said.

"Things can change quickly. Football is so

Spurs sack Hoddle

volatile, you just can't say where you are going to be or what you are going to do."

Charlton chief executive Peter Varney is determined to hang on to the top-flight's second-longest serving boss behind Sir Alex Ferguson.

Varney said: "We would tell Spurs 'no thanks' if they made an approach.

"Curbishley is deeply rooted in Charlton, and it is going to take something special to shift him.

"He runs the football side from top to bottom. He is proud of what he has built here, and there is a lot more to be achieved.

"He has built a club as well as a football team, and that can't be said of many other people in the history of the English game.

Why would we ever want him? I don't like the speculation, it's very worrying. From Andy S Have your say on 606

"He has got the full backing of the board and has a long contract to show for it. We have backed him and would expect to retain his loyalty."

However, Curbishley previously admitted he fears becoming "stale" if he remains Charlton boss any longer, heightening speculation he could succeed Glenn Hoddle as Spurs boss.

And Curbishley said any offer from Tottenham would be tempting.

"I've got to be offered it first," he said. "Right now I'm going nowhere. I've two-and-a-half years on my contract and I'm happy at Charlton, but it's flattering to be linked to Tottenham."

Other potential candiadtes include Chelsea and Watford boss Gianluca Vialli, Klaus Toppmoller, who led Leverkusen to the Champions League final in 2002, and former Barcelona coach Raddy Antic.