 | KEY DATES 05/04 - FA preparing shortlist ahead of formal interviews 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 - FA wants to appoint successor before World Cup 23/01 - Eriksson to go after World Cup |
The Football Association's search for a successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson is down to a "secret" shortlist. 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 to FA chairman Geoff Thompson.
BBC Sport rounds up the latest news and speculation surrounding the vacant England job.
12 APRIL:
The Press Association reports that Martin O'Neill and Steve McClaren are "apparently neck-and-neck" in the race to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The report says Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley and Luis Felipe Scolari have been interviewed along O'Neill and McClaren.
But, claims PA chief sports reporter Martyn Ziegler, "it now looks a straightforward choice between O'Neill and McClaren."
WHAT ARE THE MANAGERS SAYING?
Steve McClaren:
12 April - "My focus, and I mean this genuinely, is on my job at Middlesbrough and my sole intention is to bring success here."
Guus Hiddink, on confirming his new job as Russia coach:
10 April - "I'm glad this is off my chest now. I have been to Russia already to look at things and I already know that it will be fun to work there."
Alan Curbishley:
9 April - "When I had my meeting with the FA it was explained to me that they were going to leave no stone unturned, that they were going to explore every avenue."
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."
Sam Allardyce:
12 April - "I'd like to reassure everyone connected with Bolton that I'm looking for players so that we can continue to compete with the elite of English and European football."
Gerard Houllier:
29 March - "I have not put my name forward and I have not been interviewed."
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."
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. If the Rugby World Cup is anything to go by, who we employ as coach after winning with Sven is irrelevant as we'll implode in a blaze of glory and disappear up our own Wenger.
Dan Brake, Pommie in Oz
England and the English must get it out of their heads that the new Coach MUST be an Englishman. There is always the possibility that local politics will get in the way of the coach everytime he wants to make a decision. There will also be a tendency for the FA to lean heavily on the coach, because 'he is our man'.
Narayanan, Malaysia
Watching Allardyce basically beg for the job in the press is painful, and if anyone seriously thinks having an English manager is more important than having the best manager, then let's just admit defeat and bring back Taylor, Hoddle, Keegan. And the FA - please don't just pick someone mediocre simply because they're a safe bet and you're scared of the News of The World's response!
Joe , UK
The next England manager should be Martin O'Neill. England have the world class players in Rooney, Lampard, Beckham, Gerrard, they just need the motivation which is O'Neill's speciality. Sack Eriksson now, and give O'Neill the job and I believe England could win the World Cup this summer!
Duncan King, Scotland
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MMIX
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