 | KEY DATES 05/04 - FA decides on a shortlist ahead of formal interview process 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 down to a "secret" shortlist ahead of formal interviews. 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, Premier League chairman Dave Richards and FA vice-chairman David Dein are the four men who have been appointed to find a new boss.
They will be joined in assessing the options by director of football development Trevor Brooking before reporting their findings to FA chairman Geoff Thompson.
BBC Sport rounds up the latest news and speculation surrounding the vacant England job.
9 APRIL:
The agent of Guus Hiddink claims that the Dutchman is "totally out of the reckoning" as far as the England manager's position is concerned.
Hiddink was said to have been one of the people on the FA's shortlist but, according to Cees van Nieuwenhuizen, no contact ha been made since English football's governing body made their initial approach.
"In spite of all the rumours he has not been in England and the FA has not been to Holland for a serious interview," Nieuwenhuizen told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
Hiddink has been widely tipped to become the next coach of the Russian national team - and Nieuwenhuizen added that his client was unhappy with the manner of the English FA's approach.
"I think either you go for him or you don't go for him, not sit down to find out if he might be good enough to have his name put on a list of candidates," added Nieuwenhuizen.
"I think this is sort of an insult to Guus and his achievements so far."
Charlton manager Alan Curbishley reckons that Martin O'Neill is in some ways in the best position of all the candidates to succeed Eriksson.
"If you imagine the position we all find ourselves in it's not right," said Curbishley.
"If you talk about how the teams have responded - Middlesbrough have responded to Steve McClaren, my team's lost one in nine.
"You have a Curbs watch and a Sam Allardyce watch but you can't have Martin O'Neill watch because he's the only one who hasn't got anything going on at the moment. He's nice and cosy."
Meanwhile, the Sunday Express claimed that Bolton boss Allardyce is now the frontrunner for the job.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside is said to have approached the FA to underline Allardyce's credentials as prospective manager of the national team.
WHAT ARE THE MANAGERS SAYING?
Luiz Felipe Scolari
8 April - "Dealing with all the Brazilian stars is tough work. It would be easier to manage the likes of Beckham, Owen, Rooney and Terry."
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."
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."
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. It is pathetic that David Beckham's international future should enter discussions involving our next manager. Sam Allardyce would be the perfect choice - a highly technical and experienced ENGLISH manager with new ideas.
Jonathan, Sheffield, England
One thing is for sure - this time we need an English manager. I have respect for what Sven has done but it is time to bring football home. Unfortunately, there is no English manager who is ready to take on such a role and lead our boys to glory. Stuart Pearce would be the ideal candidate, but I don't think he has matured into his role as manager yet - maybe another year.
Mark Andrews, Hampshire, England
Why is Sam Allardyce in the running? What has he actually done? The same with Alan Curbishley, neither of them have a good enough CV for the job. The nation doesn't just expect, we demand success. They've never experienced real success.
Ian, England
I think the "German model" is the best. Take a recently retired top international player in partnership with specialist, part-time coaches. This means Stuart Pearce or Alan Shearer, as examples, would be the best prospective managers. It is a model that has worked for even mediocre German teams.
Mike, London, UK
Why does everyone demand passion? Can we not hire an actor to jump about and rant in the technical area? That should keep the fans happy. Then we can calmly go about selecting a manager with what we really need; tactical acumen. Hiddink is the man.
Andrew Forbes, England
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