Schaefer on verge of becoming Togo coach

RAVENSBURG, Germany, June 11 (Reuters) Winfried Schaefer, the experienced former Cameroon coach, is ready to take charge of the troubled Togo World Cup team after their trainer quit over a players' pay dispute.

''I'm just about to drive to (Togo team base) Wangen to meet management and players. We already talked last night. I will take the job if everything is in order, if they are disciplined,'' Schaefer told Reuters on the telephone today.

''It (the pay dispute) has to be settled. That's a condition.'' Yesterday, assistant coach Kodjovi Mawuena found himself hastily promoted to the top coaching job after his predecessor and former boss Otto Pfister walked out, saying he could not do his job with a pay row between players and officials unresolved.

Togolese officials then said Mawuena would stay in the job at least until the World Cup debutants' first match against South Korea on June 13.

Togo's players have demanded 155,000 euros (196,200 dollars) each to play in the World Cup plus 30,000 each per win and 15,000 per draw. Officials from the small West African country have said that was too much.

Togo's other group opponents are Switzerland and France.

REUTERS DH BST1452