 Whelan sees Paul Jewell as the next England boss |
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan believes Paul Jewell would take the England job if the Football Association offered him the position. Whelan is keen for the FA to appoint an Englishman when Sven-Goran Eriksson departs after the World Cup.
And Whelan is certain that Jewell, who led Wigan to the League Cup final, is the right man for the job.
He said: "If the FA knocked on his door and said 'Paul, we're offering you the job' he would jump at it."
Whelan was quick to round on current the England boss and demanded that he be sacked in favour of a home-grown manager.
He said of Eriksson's remarks to an undercover tabloid reporter: "It's gross misconduct, he's got to go, if it was up to me I'd say goodbye.
Latics boss Jewell and Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce were Whelan's favourites for the England hotseat and he admitted his pride at Jewell being considered.
"Obviously, I don't want to lose Paul, but if the FA came for him and wanted him as manager then I would feel so proud.
"Whatever he says to the press, I know Paul is an ambitious person. He is brilliant and good enough to do it, as is Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley or Stuart Pearce. "I'm not saying Paul would get it, but he has to be a candidate as he is one of the six great young managers we have in this country."
The Wigan supremo believes the FA have a duty to appoint an Englishman and has no problem touting his club manager for the soon to be vacant post.
He said: "The England job is so big that when the FA make a decision, and I hope they make the right one, they have to choose one of the top English managers - and Paul is one of those."
MMIX
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Jewell has to be a candidate as he is one of the six great young managers we have in this country
