NEW YORK -- With Bobby Valentine out of the way, New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips hopes to forge a good working relationship with the team's new manager.

That condition didn't always exist between Valentine and Phillips.

''All relationships develop over a period of time in ways necessary for success and how things are structured as we move forward,'' Phillips said Wednesday, a day after Valentine was fired.

''Whomever we hire, we will develop a working relationship together. I'm confident we'll be able to do that,'' he said.

Valentine was not always comfortable with Phillips' high profile. The GM was in the clubhouse almost every day and frequently met with the media on the field before games.

Owner Fred Wilpon, who fired Valentine without consulting Phillips, said he wants the Mets' next manager to have a winning reputation rather than someone just starting out. Phillips said he thought the Mets would have no problem getting a man to fit that profile.

''I think we're an attractive team in an attractive town with attractive talent,'' he said. ''I think prospective candidates will have interest in that.

''We're in a great city. We're a team with a lot of talent with room for improvement from what we did this year. We're a large market club with one of the more competitive payrolls.''

That payroll soared to $95 million last season, a sore point for a team that finished in last place.

For Phillips, the next task is to gather a list of candidates for the job. He said he met with front office staff on Wednesday.

''We continued some of our discussions,'' he said. ''We have to reach out and line up some interviews and go forward from there. I think we'll move as quickly as we can.

''We're talking to everybody about candidates. We'll probably talk to more than one candidate.''

The next manager will have at least two new coaches. Pitching coach Charlie Hough and bench coach Tom Robson told Phillips they would let their contracts expire and seek opportunities elsewhere.

Phillips, who was viewed to be on the hot seat along with Valentine, has been told that he is staying. He has one year remaining on his contract.

''We keep coming to work until somebody says not to,'' he said. ''I'm hopeful of getting my option exercised and to stay beyond.''