PAUL JONES is aiming to give Mark Hughes a pair of helping hands in his quest to land the Welsh manager's job.

The Southampton keeper knows if he can keep a clean sheet against Denmark at Anfield tomorrow it will provide a massive boost to his club colleague's hopes of securing the post full-time.

Hughes and Neville Southall have been appointed as joint caretaker managers in the wake of Bobby Gould's sudden resignation after Saturday's 4-0 defeat in Italy.

Jones was man-of-the-match making several superb saves to keep the score down as the defence folded and it was the manner of defeat as much as the score which persuaded Gould to step down.

But if Wales can bounce back by beating the Danes it will give them an excellent chance of reaching the play-offs for Euro 2000.

They have already won in Copenhagen and Jones reckons a repeat result tomorrow would leave a straight fight with Switzerland for runners-up spot.

He said: "Although I had quite a good game it was a poor team performance. Italy played well and it is no disgrace to lose to them but it was the way it happened which was probably behind Bobby's decision.

"It was a complete surprise to everyone. He just came into the dressing room and said he was quitting. He held his hands up and said he wanted to give someone else a go while we still have a chance.

"Bobby gave me my break-through at international level and I will always be grateful for that but now I have to start all over again like everyone else.

"I presume the Welsh FA will look at the candidates after tomorrow's game but if we get a good result then it should be good for Sparky and Neville.

"Training has not changed that much under them. They know the lads quite well and we all respect them for what they have done in the game. They have been asking the players' opinions and we are all working in the same direction.

"It hasn't been too strange having Sparky in charge because he has been part of the scene for so long. At least I don't have to call him Gaffer! I don't think he would want me too - he's pretty level-headed.

"But if we could qualify for the finals it would be wonderful for him and the likes of Dean Saunders and Ryan Giggs who are all top players but they have never appeared in a proper international tournament.

"This is a massive game for us and if we can repeat our win in Denmark while Switzerland lose at home to the Italians then we will be in a strong position."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.