By Piers Edwards BBC Sport

Howard Wilkinson has twice taken temporary charge of England

The general secretary of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has said he wants Howard Wilkinson to be the new coach of the Pharaohs.

Mohamed El Siagy said that the former England caretaker manager was his preferred candidate out of the four coaches that the EFA has contacted about the vacant post so far.

"I want Howard Wilkinson as our new coach," the general secretary told BBC Sport.

"In my opinion, we need a good coach to plan, to make a plan for our strategy and he can work with this strategy."

We have spoken to four coaches - Howard Wilkinson, Claude Leroy, Henri Stambouli and Cesar Menotti EFA general secretary Mohamed El Siagy

"Wilkinson worked with England's Football Association, with the strategy of English football and not only does he know a lot, but he also has very good experience."

EFA officials are set to meet on Monday to make a final decision on who will lead the Pharaohs through Group 3 of 2006 World Cup qualifying.

Wilkinson in China U-turn

Earlier this month, Wilkinson turned down an offer to manage Chinese champions Shanghai Shenhua.

El Siagy has even spoken to Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson and England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson about Wilkinson, with Eriksson highlighting the Englishman's experience.

Yet the former Leeds United manager is just one of a number of candidates EFA officials are looking at.

"We have spoken to four coaches - Howard Wilkinson, Claude Leroy, Henri Stambouli and (Argentina's) Cesar Menotti," El Siagy said.

Winfried Schaefer, who was linked with the Egypt post earlier this week yet has denied any contact with the EFA, was a clear omission from this list.

Schaefer denies Egypt links

El Siagy stated that the four coaches named were all interested in the Egypt post, which may surprise the Mali Football Federation.

Stambouli led the Malians to the semi-finals of the 2004 Cup of Nations, and although his contract extended until just after the end of the tournament the French coach had been expected to stay on.

With Egypt hosting the 2006 Nations Cup, there is pressure on the EFA to find the right man.

El Siagy added that the new coach will have a contract that will expire shortly after Egypt 2006, yet this deal will extend should the Pharaohs reach that year's World Cup in Germany.

"If the new coach reaches the 2006 World Cup, he can continue his contract for two more years," the Egyptian said.

Egyptian officials began searching for a new coach after previous boss Mohsen Salah resigned after Tunisia 2004, where the four-time Nations Cup winners had failed to get past the group stages.