Japan Football Association technical director Hiromi Hara on Friday amended an earlier remark regarding his setting a Saturday deadline to hear from three candidates he is in negotiations with for the Japan national team manager's job.

"It is a deadline to hear some kind of response. If they want us to wait a little longer, negotiations will continue," Hara said.

Hara changed his story slightly from Thursday when he told reporters that he is hoping to reach an agreement with one of the three candidates he is in talks with by Saturday, Japan time.