In a post on social media tonight, Tunku Ismail, who is known as TMJ, said Cahill, a former Everton midfielder, is not the CEO of the Harimau Malaya squad, as speculated recently.

“This guy @tim_cahill is not the CEO of the Malaysian national team. He is my personal advisor for sports and international relations,” Tunku Ismail said in the post, which featured a picture of him with Cahill.

Last month, the Football Association of Malaysia refused to confirm or deny speculation that Cahill would be involved in the move to revolutionise the Harimau Malaya squad through a special unit aimed at monitoring the performance and management of the national football team.

Cahill is technical director with Qatar FA.

Speculation about his role with Harimau Malaya arose after a photograph of Cahill with Tunku Ismail, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and JDT chief executive officer Alistair Edwards was posted on Tunku Ismail’s Facebook page in August.

Tunku Ismail, a former FAM president and known for his influence in the local football scene, confirmed earlier today that the selection of a candidate for the national team’s CEO is nearing completion.

He said in a statement, that the CEO of the national team must be someone who is well connected in football and has strong ties with successful football individuals.

“He must be someone who has not only played at a high level, but is also an entrepreneur who could drive Harimau Malaya’s commercial interest and be able to advise the league on policies to improve the standing of the national team,” Tunku Ismail said.