Munich  - Dutch football champions AZ Alkmaar will only let coach Louis van Gaal to Bayern Munich if they find a suitable successor, Munich general manager Uli Hoeness said in an interview published on Friday.

"Fact is that there are problems in the relationship between van Gaal and Alkmaar. Especially because they don't seem to have found a successor yet. This appears to be a precondition," Hoeness told the Munich daily tz.

Van Gaal is the top favourite to take the helm in Munich from next season onwards. Munich sacked Juergen Klinsmann last week, with Jupp Heynckes acting as caretaker for the final Bundesliga month.

Van Gaal led Alkmaar to a surprise Dutch title and has a contract there until 2010.

Alkmaar were reportedly after Co Adriaanse as new coach, but he is said to be looking at the Ajax Amsterdam coaching job as well after Marco van Basten quit there this week.(dpa)