LONDON -- Martin O'Neill sought to distance himself Friday from the vacant England job, saying he was committed to his position as Aston Villa manager.
"This is where I want to do the job and I want to try and do something for Aston Villa," O'Neill said. "I am absolutely committed. This job is far from complete -- I feel as if I'm just starting off."
However, O'Neill did not categorically rule himself out of consideration for the England coaching job.
The former Leicester and Celtic coach has been considered among the top contenders to replace Steve McClaren, who was fired Thursday after England lost to Croatia and failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.
British bookmaker William Hill said O'Neill remained a top betting favorite, despite his stated commitment to Villa. He was listed as third favorite at odds of 9-1, behind former Real Madrid, Juventus and Roma coach Fabio Capello (15-8) and former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho (7-2).
O'Neill, a northern Irishman, has managed Aston Villa since August 2006. He had been considered for the England job when Sven-Goran Eriksson left after the 2006 World Cup.
O'Neill had been interviewed by the Football Association, along with Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley, who have already ruled themselves out of the new vacancy.
"I know where the speculation has arisen from, because I was involved in the interview process the last time," O'Neill said at his weekly Villa news conference in Birmingham. "I was not a club manager at that time, and if that (England) had arisen and I had been given that chance, that would have been a different matter."
There is no rush for the FA to make a new appointment. With England missing out on next summer's Euro 2008 tournament, the team will only be playing friendlies until the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September.
Between now and then, O'Neill's position could change. Aston Villa's American owner, Randy Lerner, has said he wouldn't stand in the way of O'Neill taking the England job.
Another potential England candidate, Mark Hughes, signed a contract extension as Blackburn manager on Friday.
Former England striker Alan Shearer is a possibility, despite his lack of coaching experience.
German great Franz Beckenbauer has recommended Juergen Klinsmann, a former Tottenham star who coached Germany to the World Cup semifinals last year.
