TOP former detectives from Greater Manchester Police could be recruited by the team trying to finding missing Madeleine McCann.

Chief Supt Steve Heywood, head of the serious crime division of Greater Manchester Police, has been asked to provide a list of retired or about-to-retire officers.

Madeleine was snatched while on holiday in Portugal just a few days short of her fourth birthday last year.

The Find Madeleine Fund was set up with help from individual donations and is now being bankrolled by Sales Sharks boss Brian Kennedy.

It is understood that he is now considering the list provided by GMP. Among the list of "senior investigating officers" is former Det Supt Andy Tattersall.

Mr Kennedy has already spoken to him about the case. Mr Tattersall retired last year but still works for the force in a civilian role looking at historic murder cases.

Another former Manchester police officer Henri Exton, 57, is currently involved in the hunt for Madeleine. He is understood to be a shareholder in American-based private investigators Oakley International.

It is understood that Mr Kennedy is happy with the work being done by Oakley but Mr Exton is taking a `back seat' following publicity around the case.

A source close to the inquiry said: "The main concern all along has been to find Madeleine. Everything else is secondary. It would be silly not consider alternatives if they could help find her," said a source.

"Oakley has a contract and there is no intention of severing that. But that's not to say that in two or three weeks or a month that might not change,"

Mr Tattersall co-wrote with another Manchester detective, Tony Cook, the `A to Z checklist of murder investigation' which is used by police forces across the country. He also worked on the investigation into the murder of special branch officer Stephen Oake which ended in the jailing of terrorist Kamel Bourgass.

But Mr Tattersall was also involved in the Jill Dando murder case which identified Barry George as the culprit. Mr Tattersall insisted the conviction was safe but it was quashed on appeal.

A spokesman for GMP said: "We were approached by the charity who asked us if we knew of any retiring or recently retired officers who could help with their inquiries. We have given them details of some eligible officers or former officers. As far as we are aware, no decision has been made by the charity, but we are not involved in the selection process."

Madeleine was abducted from the flat in Praia da Luz on May 3 while her parents were dining 50 yards away. During the summer, Portuguese police decided to shelve the case and lift `arguido', or official suspect, status on Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, both 40, from Rothley, Leicestershire.