Marchand has previously coached French sides Rennes and Guingamp

The Tunisia FA has named Frenchman Bertrand Marchand as its preferred candidate to become the new national team coach.

However, a list of three names has been forwarded to the country's sports ministry for a final decision.

The three-man shortlist includes Bosnia-born Valid Halilhodzic and German Gerot Rohr.

Tunisia are looking for a replacement for Roger Lemerre whose six-year stint included a Nations Cup title.

Halilhodzic's many coaching assignments includes a stint at Paris St Germain while Rohr, who had several spells in charge at Girondins Bordeaux, now works in Ligue 2 with Ajaccio.

But Marchand, who led Etoile du Sahel to their first Champions League title after less than six months in his job, is favoured. The 54-year-old is a former professional with Stade Rennes and coached at the club as well as at En Avant Guingamp in France, before moving to Tunisia.

Marchand told the Tunis state-run La Presse newspaper he had no intention of leaving Etoile before the end of his contract in June.

The club lead the Ligue 1 standings in Tunisia.

The new coach's first task will be four World Cup qualifiers on successive weekends in June.

Tunisia begin their bid for a place at the 2010 finals with a home tie against Burkina Faso and then play the Seychelles and Burundi (twice).

Tunisia is one of many African countries where state financial support for football dictates that government approval is needed for major decisions such as the appointment of a foreign coach.