Former Holland, Korea and Rangers boss Advocaat had agreed to take the reins with the Roos for their World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying campaigns, only to pull out at the last moment.

The FFA had been keen to maintain the Dutch line of national team managers with Advocaat taking over from Guus Hiddink following Graham Arnold's temporary caretaker coach role.

But Advocaat reneged on the deal after he was enticed to stay at Russian club Zenit St Petersburg by a massive payrise for successfully steering the club to its first domestic league title in recent history.

Advocaat had agreed to join Australia in August 2007 but cancelled in November 2007, leaving the Socceroos in dire straits with no coach on the eve of two vital qualifying campaigns and coming off the back of a disastrous Asian Cup.

The FFA moved swiftly to secure Pim Verbeek as coach who has since taken the national team through both qualifying campaigns to guarantee a place at the World Cup and Asian Cup.

But more than two years later, the FFA are still pursuing Advocaat for compensation for pulling out of his deal with them at the eleventh hour.

Advocaat's new contract to stay at Zenit was understood to be worth $4 million a year in 2007 - and the FFA want a cut of that cash.

He was later sacked by Zenit last year after a poor run of results, but then moved on to be appointed Belgian national coach when they failed to qualify for the World Cup.

In December he also combined that role with being head coach at Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar until he suddenly and unexpectedly quit the Belgian job last week.

He is now tipped to again replace Guus Hiddink and take the national coach job with Russia, possibly at the end of the Eredivisie season.

But the FFA say they have not given up hope of being paid by Advocaat for giving them the runaround in 2007.

Any deal with Advocaat could be put towards the salary of Pim Verbeek's replacement when he quits the job after the World Cup, potentially improving the quality of candidates..

The spokesman added: "It is still ongoing and negotiations are continuing. FFA has not written it off and is pursuing the matter.

"When it is resolved, we may release details then."