Gordon Brown's prospects of heading the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have suffered a further blow as the business secretary said the position should go to someone from within the Eurozone.
Vince Cable was asked to comment about the vacancy at the head of the bank but refused to comment directly on whether the former prime minister would be a suitable candidate.
Dominique Strauss-Khan has resigned as head of the IMF and is currently in jail in New York accused of sexually assaulting a chamber maid.
The business secretary told Radio 4’s Today programme that "promoting national champions, whoever they are, probably isn't the best way of dealing with this".
"The IMF is dealing with a major economic crisis in Europe. They need somebody very effective and respected," he said.
"Particularly somebody who understands the internal problems of the Eurozone. That is probably where the new head of the IMF will come from.
"If it doesn't, someone from the eastern Asian countries who has had a very successful record in economic management."
Last month David Cameron said his predecessor was not the "most appropriate person" to lead the IMF as he would not admit Britain had a "debt problem".
The prime minister told the Today programme the IMF should look to "another part of the world", such as China or India, for its next managing director in order to increase its global standing.
The managing director of the IMF is determined by its executive directors, who in turn are appointed or elected by member countries.
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