 | KEY DATES 10/03 - FA meets with Curbishley for informal discussions 27/02 - Three-man team report to FA chairman Geoff Thompson 02/02 - The FA appoints three-man team to find new boss 26/01 - Barwick signals intention to appoint successor before World Cup 23/01 - Eriksson reveals he will stand down after World Cup |
The Football Association's search for a successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson is under way. The Swede will step down after the World Cup finals in Germany this summer.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick (pictured right), international committee chairman Noel White and Premier League chairman Dave Richards are the three men who have been appointed to find a new boss.
BBC Sport rounds up the latest news and speculation surrounding the vacant England job.
4 APRIL:
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce could know by Wednesday whether he is favourite to become England coach or whether some of his associations with agents, such as his son Craig, have flawed his candidacy.
According to Harry Harris in the Daily Express, the list of candidates to succeed Eriksson will be reduced to a three-man shortlist ahead of the FA Board meeting.
It is reported that Barwick has compiled a comprehensive dossier on each of the leading contenders and FA head-hunters will sift through his findings and narrow the list down to just three who will be formally interviewed for the England job.
It is also possible that two of the three will form part of a new Team England coaching structure to include Stuart Pearce.
An Englishman may be favoured with Allardyce, Pearce and Alan Curbishley leading the contingent, while Northern Irishman Martin O'Neill remains in the running.
But risk factor surrounding each candidate could play a key role, with Harris in the Express fearing Allardyce's chances might be compromised by his dealings with agents at Bolton.
WHAT ARE THE MANAGERS SAYING?
Sam Allardyce:
1 April - "It's one of the biggest jobs in the world and I'm at the stage now when I think I'm ready."
Gerard Houllier:
29 March - "I have not put my name forward and I have not been interviewed."
Guus Hiddink:
24 March - "I've decided to stop as trainer with PSV at the end of this season, and that's about it."
Peter Taylor:
24 March - "My meeting was about the role, but I'm sure Alan Curbishley's meeting would have been for the role."
Fabio Capello:
24 March - "Within three years I will pack in coaching at club level and then I want to realise the dream I have always had inside me - England."
Luiz Felipe Scolari:
23 March - "I had an informal meeting with the English federation. I do not feel I am in a race to be the next England boss."
Alan Curbishley:
2 April - "My meeting in March was the last time anything was said to me. As far as I am aware the FA is still talking and nothing is finalised."
Steve McClaren:
15 March - Studiously avoided answering questions about the latest speculation surrounding the England job before his Middlesbrough team beat Roma to reach the Uefa Cup quarter-finals.
Stuart Pearce:
13 March - "England is not a distraction for me, I don't take a great deal of interest in it."
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
Send us your comments about the England manager's job using the form below and we will post a selection here. I really don't understand as to why the FA is even thinking of Curbishley? He is nothing special and Charlton never really challenge for anything. In my opinion - and Sir Alex's - the only man for the job has to be Big Sam!
Matt Bowles, England
Steve McClaren should be given the opportunity to manage England.He has both experience and knowledge of the England set up and has a decent record as a manager at club level.
David Szrejder, United Kingdom
Big Sam, Stu Pearce are good choices for the job. Sam has done great things for Bolton with a very limited budget. Imagine what he can do with a team of superstars. Pearce has been there and done it, and has the ambition to go places.
Levi, England
We don't need a manager that is great at competing with the big boys, we need a manager to lead a team of big boys to the big title and someone who knows what it takes to motivate a team to success. My vote is for Championship-winning Steve Coppell. Great with the media, same style as Eriksson and he motivated a good team to great heights for a whole season.
Morgan, England
Why has Martin Jol not been mentioned?
Roy, UK
Really, England should just appoint Steve McClaren. After all, he is England's assistant coach. Use your brains England. He's British Born.
Nicholas Taylor, England
Fabio Capello is the best choice for England next manager. He can speak English. He has an awesome resume in coaching clubs. He has great achievement and record. More over, he is determined to manage England.
Zackary, Indonesia
Gerard Houllier will make the better manager because he has handled the English players before. So he understands English football.
suzyo chilongo, zambia
Allardyce and Curbishley have done well in making the most of average or has-been footballers, whereas the England manager has to work with some genuinely world-class players.
We need a manager who motivates and lets everyone know their place - not someone who will try to enforce tactics designed to nullify the opposition (and spectators).
Mike, England
Why all the support for Curbishley? Nothing against the guy but he has achieved precious little in terms trophies or prestige.
If the FA do go English, it has to be Big Sam. He consistently produces a team that competes with the big boys, whose squads contain the very opposition we'll face at World and European Cups. Add that to his tactical nous and ability to handle top class players and there really shouldn't be any other contenders.
Thom, UK
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
