Tom Brown said that his 59-year-old pal believes he has “one big job left in him”.

And IMF insiders are thought to consider the former Prime Minister the ideal candidate to take over when France’s Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s term ends in 2012.

Tom Brown said last night: “Gordon’s record would make him first choice. His motive for taking it, or another job like it, would be his ambition to tackle world poverty and his anger at the plight of many millions of people around the world who live on the knife’s edge of bare existence.”

Gordon Brown reportedly turned down a chance to head the organisation several years ago because he wanted to become PM.

He was re-elected in his constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in the election and will continue to serve as a backbench Labour MP.

Internationally, his reputation remains intact and he is admired for the way he tackled the global banking crisis. An IMF source said: “He is very well regarded.”