BRENTFORD manager Wally Downes this week scoffed at speculation that he might take one of the vacant jobs at Leyton Orient or Northampton Town .

After receiving an assurance from chairman Eddie Rogers that he will not have his responsibilities watered down if the club appoint a Director of Footbal1, Downes told me: “The situation has been resolved. I have not been approached by Orient or Northampton and have no plans to leave Brentford.” Downes had been upset that ex-Brentford boss Steve Perryman was recently in talks about an overseeing role at Griffin Park - which Perryman subsequently turned down.

Brentford director John McGlashan pointed out that Wally was still a rookie manager and needed someone with more experience to attract players after missing out on the likes of Rowan Vine and Darius Henderson.

A frustrated Downes said at the time: “The board wanted a director of football because they thought I could not attract players to club, but the reason why some of my targets did not come was simply because we were unable to match the wages other clubs pay.” Rogers, who defused a potential conflict by telling Downes his role would not be affected, declared: “We’ve had a ‘clear-the-air’ meeting with Wally and he is now happy about the situation. He won’t be going to Orient or anywhere else in the foreseeable future because he is doing a good job for us and has a one-year contract. But if a club from a higher division wanted him we would look at the situation.” Downes was concerned about Brentford issuing a statement saying that a Director of Football would have responsibility for transfers and players’ contract negotiations.

Rogers stressed: “I don’t want to be associated with that statement. It seems there has been a misunderstanding, and further comments attributed to John McGlashan have possibly been misinterpreted.

“The fact is a third party approached us about Steve Perryman. We talked to Steve and it was clear he wanted a more ‘hands on’ role than we could offer him. We are merely looking for someone who could add to the marketing profile of the club - not interfere with the running of the football side.

“We will not be going flat out to make an appointment, but if the right person comes along we would like him to fill this new role. We don’t necessarily see it as a full-time or a paid job, so it might be more suitable for someone in the Peter Osgood mould than a Tony Adams, who presumably wants to further his career in a paid capacity.

“I don’t think we are being unrealistic because the directors and I do not receive payment, apart from John McGlashan, who is an executive director. Certainly, we could not afford to pay a big salary.” Rogers added: “The responsibilities undertaken by Wally Downes and his staff will not be reduced, and anyone who comes in would have to be given Wally’s approval. We simply want someone to advise the board on football matters - not take an active role in the day-to-day management.” Downes was this week trying to arrange to extend striker Tommy Wright’s one-month loan from Leicester by another month. He also hopes to persuade Chelsea to extend the loan of Joel Kitamirike.

Wright was stretchered off injured in the closing stages against Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday, but was expected to be fit for the England Under 20 team against the Czech Republic yesterday.

Meanwhile, Brentford have given a month’s contract to Nigerian forward Jide Olugbodi, who has previously been with Winners FC in Nigeria, Mohammedan Sporting Club in Bangladesh, FC Schaffhausen in Switzerland, SC Rotweil in Germany and, more recently, Austria Lustenan in Austria.

So, with 19-year-old striker Matt Harold impressing in the reserves, Brentford should have sufficient cover if they lose the services of the highly respected Wright.

The Bees have no game this Saturday as the local derby against QPR at Loftus Road has been postponed until Tuesday November 11 (7.45pm) due to international call ups for Ibrahima Sonko, Matt Somner and Kevin O’ Connor.

The Bees’ next match is on Tuesday (7.45pm) in the LDV Trophy away to Barnet, who will include ex-Bees Mark Williams and Peter Beadle. Wright will be missing due to a one-match suspension.