 | 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 said to be 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.
15 APRIL:
Relegations and promotions may be at the forefront of many fans' minds as the season meanders towards the home straight.
But the race for an original line on the Eriksson succession shows no sign of abating in the national press.
Today, it's The Sun's turn to take up the baton as the game of 'guess who's had an interview' goes on to how the interviewees performed.
So, after all the talk being about Steve McClaren this week, people are suddenly talking about Sam Allardyce again.
The Sun's exclusive is that Big Sam has been the most impressive candidate in the interviews.
All the usual suspects are set to have second interviews this week, apparantly; Allardyce, McClaren, Martin O'Neill and Luiz Felipe Scolari.
An FA insider is quoted as saying: "If it was down to interviews alone, Allardyce would get it but there's a lot more to it than that."
WHAT ARE THE MANAGERS SAYING?
Alan Curbishley:
14 April - "I understand the FA want to give the job the thoroughness it deserves and they are looking at every angle. But this has dragged on for some time and got in the way and every match and press conference is getting hijacked."
Steve McClaren:
12 April - "I've coped with it (speculation) game after game but I can't think about anything else (but Middlesbrough). I let everyone else do the speculating. 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."
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. I feel so strongly about this that if Steve McClaren got the job I'd turn my back on supporting England. I cannot believe he is favourite! When will the FA realise that the new man needs experience with big name players, not managers who have done well on a shoestring - Graham Taylor anyone?. But McClaren has not even done well on a shoestring - the league table does not lie.
Christian Price, United Kingdom
Please not Steve McClaren. Look what happened the last time they gave the job to someone who had a half-decent season with an under-achieving club. Graham Taylor took us to the depths and McClaren will do the same. Give it to Sir Bobby Robson for a year with Pearce, Clough and Shearer being primed for the job.
Robin Cattani, Sussex,Engerland
England are so out of step. If they are serious about ever winning another major trophy they will not pick a British candidate. Scolari, Capello and Hiddink are all good choices, but they could do a lot worse then Bruce Arena. Seriously!
Charley Bartel, USA
How can we let a manager who makes Gareth Southgate his captain become England manager? We'll be all over the place! If McClaren gets the job you'll see all sorts of mistakes. Phil Neville in the squad, Southgate taking penalties, Nicky Butt on the pitch - you name any mistake a manager can make and it will happen. What we need is Allardyce. Tough, British and no-nonsense. If we can't get him, we'll have to go with Paolo Maldini for the job.
Giovanni, England
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