FA have shortlist?

FA have shortlist?
The Football Association insists that it is not yet close to naming the next England manager. The Sunday Mirror has published photos of FA chief executive Brian Barwick with Charlton boss Alan Curbishley. However, FA director of communications Adrian Bevington told BBC Five Live "It is unfair to say that any individual is the favourite at this stage. "No decision has been made yet but we aim to have the new manager in place before the World Cup." Bevington confirmed that Curbishley had talked with the FA and their search would span further than the names already reported in the press. He added: "Charlton have been very good in the fact that they have granted us permission to speak to Curbishley. "We would have preferred to have this process conducted with an element of privacy. "We will be seeing a wide number of people with some names having already been reported and some haven't been reported." With current England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson due to stand down after the World Cup finals this summer, the FA are keen to confirm the new manager before the tournament begins. Bevington said on Saturday: "The FA made it very clear three weeks ago that once the Uruguay game had taken place chief executive Brian Barwick would begin the process of recruitment for the next England manager. "We stated at the time that this would involve speaking to numerous individuals, including potential candidates. "As you would expect, that process is now up and running. "Until significant progress is made beyond speaking to individuals we believe strongly that the process must be conducted in private. "It should be noted, however, that the FA would only approach managers to discuss the role after permission had been received from their clubs." Other candidates to have been linked with the job are former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, Bolton boss Sam Allardyce and Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce.

Scolari cools rumours of FA talks
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says he has not held talks with the Football Association over becoming England boss. The 57-year-old sparked rumours when he visited London for a recent conference. "I arrived at 11 in the morning, I went to the meeting, we had a meeting with business people and it was all over by five in the afternoon," said Scolari. "I got another taxi to the airport to go back to Lisbon. It is foolishness and makes sense only if the FA chief executive was the taxi driver." Scolari, whose Portugal contract expires after this summer's World Cup in Germany, guided his native Brazil to success in the 2002 World Cup - ousting England at the quarter-final stage. And his Portugal side also ended England's hopes at the last-eight stage of Euro 2004, winning on penalties before going on to lose to Greece in the final. "If I had to deny everything that had been written about my future I wouldn't be doing anything else in the next few months," added Scolari. The Brazilian, who has also been linked with the manager's job at Newcastle, has previously suggested he would have an interest in taking over as England coach. Scolari said he would "analyse with interest" any invitation to work in England, although he admitted he would need to improve his command of the language.

Butcher backs Pearce for England
Former England captain Terry Butcher believes Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce is ready to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England boss this summer. Butcher said: "Stuart would be right for the job because of the respect that he has and the passion. "With someone experienced behind him it could be the perfect partnership. "But with the politics at the Football Association you don't know what will happen. There are strong personalities within the FA with their own opinions." He added: "It may be a case of a lot of debate, lobbying and political manoeuvring - just like Westminster." Another former England international, Jack Charlton, said he was unconvinced by the whole Eriksson era and feels a British manager could do at least as good a job. Former Republic of Ireland boss Charlton said: "Eriksson did a reasonable job but nothing exceptional that could not have been done by anybody else in England. "The only real result he had that caused you to clap was when he beat Germany 5-1 - and I watched that game and we had five shots and scored five goals. "I thought we were a bit lucky to get away with it that day - but we did. "As far as the rest of the games are concerned, I don't think he has beaten anyone remarkable. "I have always wanted an Englishman in charge. "There are quite a few who would do a good job but we have got to make sure he is Great British. I don't think foreign managers have the commitment." Meanwhile, Butcher is confident that Arsenal defender Sol Campbell will be fit to make the England squad for the World Cup finals. He added: "He deserves to be there because of what he has done for England. "He has played in five championships and has never let England down. He is a terrific player and a terrific personality so if he is right physically and mentally he should be on the plane. "Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger knows him very well so as soon as he gets back in the Arsenal first team there will be no argument as far as England is concerned. "Sol has a great belief in his ability and does his job very well, leading by example." Meanwhile, Tottenham's England striker Jermain Defoe fears he may run out of time to prove he is worth a place in the squad for Germany. Defoe has struggled to hold down a first-team place at White Hart Lane in recent weeks and faces stiff competition from Darren Bent, Dean Ashton and James Beattie. "I have been thinking about which strikers will be going to the World Cup and have tried to work out all the options," said Defoe. "I know the manager has said he wants to see more of me and, hopefully, I can get some more games for Spurs before the end of the season. "I am aware that if I am sat on the bench and not playing, Mr Eriksson can't see me and assess my form. "But he knows what I can do and I am confident enough in my own ability to believe that when I play I will score goals and contribute to the team's success."

Capello not ready for England job
Juventus coach Fabio Capello has insisted he would love the England manager's job - but not yet. Capello wants to stay in club football for the time being - effectively ruling himself out of the race to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson this summer. "In the next three years I am thinking of stopping as a club coach," Capello told Italian newspaper L'Expresso. "And then I would like for a dream I have always had inside me to come true - to manage England." Portugal manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has admitted speaking to the Football Association about succeeeding Eriksson as England coach. Last week the 57-year-old Brazilian denied having formal talks about the England job with the FA when he visited London. But he told the Daily Star: "I had an informal meeting with the English federation. It is great my work and career has been recognised. "Taking this job would be nothing to do with money. I have lots of ambition." Scolari, who is out of contract with Portugal after the World Cup added: "I still have not decided my future. If we won the World Cup I might stay. "I love football and like managing with a smile on my face. Working in England would be great. The atmosphere would be similar to Brazil because the national team is so important. "England have excellent players but it should not all be about individuals. They have to be a unit. "I am 57 years old and still have a lot of ambition in life. I feel I am still young and can do this job."

Allardyce wants FA to go English
Sam Allardyce would feel let down if the Football Association appointed a foreign manager to succeed England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson. Bolton manager Allardyce told Sir Stanley: "I would feel betrayed if the FA chose a foreign manager. "Sven was the right man at the time, but the job must go to an Englishman." Allardyce is sure he is the man for the job: "I don't think there is another manager in this country who has achieved as much as I have." Allardyce added: "That might sound big-headed to others but, if you compare the money we have all spent on players and wages, pound for pound my record's as good as anyone's. "If you had a league table based on money spent and the relative success achieved, I'd think Bolton would be top of it every year. "Chelsea have spent £270m. If I had spent that amount I'd guarantee winning the title every year. That would be the minimum requirement. "Certainly if I finish in a Champions League spot this season then I'd like to think that would strengthen my chances of becoming England manager."

Curbishley receives Reed backing
Former Football Association technical director Les Reed has backed Alan Curbishley to become England manager. The Charlton boss has had informal talks with the FA but faces stiff competition from managers with the European experience he lacks. "Alan has got all the credentials to do the job," said Reed. "I'm not one of those people who believe the England manager has to have won something at club level or had European experience." Curbishley's rivals to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup include the likes of ex-Celtic boss Martin O'Neill and Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, with the FA wanting to make an appointment before the tournament starts this summer. Reed worked alongside Curbishley as a coach at Charlton before leaving to join the FA in 1998, taking on the role of acting technical director for two years until 2004. "He's proved himself at Premiership level, with a lot less resources than some of those considered as the top bosses in the league," added Reed.

No new FA talks yet - Curbishley
Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has said that he has had no further discussions with the Football Association regarding the England managerial post. Curbishley had informal talks with the FA in March but others are also in the frame to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson after this summer's World Cup finals. And Curbishley told Sir Stanley: "That was the last anything was said to me. "As far as I am aware the FA is still talking and nothing is finalised." Other names linked to the battle to replace current England boss Eriksson after the World Cup include former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill and Bolton boss Sam Allardyce, with the FA wanting to make an appointment before the tournament starts this summer. Curbishley added: "I knew when I had the meeting it was informal, that I wasn't the first person they had spoken to and I wasn't the last they were going to speak to." The Addicks manager has been strongly linked with the post since his meeting with Barwick but insists that he is trying to ignore the mounting speculation until he is made an offer. He said: "People will say do you want to do this or do you want that job. "But you can't consider anything until someone looks you in the eye and says to you 'Do you want this job? It's yours if you want it'. "Only then can you start thinking about things."

FA to consider England shortlist
Football Association chief Brian Barwick is thought to have a shortlist of three or four names to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager. The interview process will be discussed at an FA board meeting on Wednesday. Eriksson will leave after the World Cup and the FA plans to name a successor before the tournament starts on 9 June. It is believed there may be no foreign contenders on a list that is said to include ex-Celtic boss Martin O'Neill and Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren. If that is the case it would mean that the likes of Australia and PSV Eindhoven boss Guus Hiddink, Fabio Capello of Juventus and Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will not be part of the formal interview process. Bolton boss Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley of Charlton are the other names thought to be in the frame. The shortlist was drawn up by the nominations group of Barwick, international committee chairman Noel White, Premier League chairman Dave Richards and FA board member David Dein. The group will interview all the candidates, perhaps with FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking alongside that panel.

Robson opposed to O'Neill option
West Brom manager Bryan Robson believes former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill should not become England's new boss. The Football Association is believed to have a shortlist of three or four names to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson - and O'Neill is thought to be a candidate. But former England captain Robson told Sir Stanley: "I would like to see an Englishman back in the job." Robson added that this view would obviously rule out Northern Irishman O'Neill "as far as I'm concerned". Robson stated: "Bobby Robson went to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1990 and Terry Venables reached the semi-finals of the European Championships in 1996. "So the English managers have proved they can do the job and do it very well. "I feel there are enough good coaches to handle the top players in the country. "I would like it to be an English manager."

FA keeps options open on new boss
The Football Association has been at pains to stress that the race to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager is still wide open. The interview process was discussed at a board meeting on Wednesday, but the FA's statement said no specific candidates were discussed. "The FA can confirm that we remain on target to make an appointment before the World Cup," read the statement. "At this time, no decision has been taken on who the next manager will be." FA chief executive Brian Barwick is reported to have a shortlist of three or four names to replace Eriksson. Barwick gave an update to the board on behalf of the nominations group on Wednesday. The FA statement added: "Due to the magnitude of the England team, this process understandably continues to attract a huge level of interest, which leads to intense media speculation. "However, out of courtesy to all parties involved in this process, the FA has a responsibility to ensure a level of confidentiality is maintained until we are in a position to make an appointment." It is believed there may be no non-British contenders on the shortlist that could include ex-Celtic manager Martin O'Neill and Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren. Bolton boss Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley of Charlton are the other names thought to be in the frame. If that is the case it would mean that the likes of Australia and PSV Eindhoven boss Guus Hiddink, Fabio Capello of Juventus and Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will not be part of the formal interview process. The shortlist was drawn up by the nominations group of Barwick, international committee chairman Noel White, Premier League chairman Dave Richards and FA board member David Dein. The group will interview all the candidates, perhaps with FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking alongside that panel.

Hiddink ruled out of England race
Guus Hiddink's agent says the Dutchman is "totally out of the reckoning" in the race to become England manager. Cees van Nieuwenhuizen says the Football Association has not followed up an initial approach to the PSV Eindhoven and Australia coach. "He definitely won't be the England manager," van Nieuwenhuizen told Sir Stanley. "In spite of all the rumours he has not been in England and the FA has not been to Holland for a serious interview." Hiddink will leave PSV at the end of the season and Football Federation Australia say they do not expect him to continue as coach after the World Cup. He had been tipped to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson but has also been linked with the Russian national team. Van Nieuwenhuizen revealed he was unhappy with the manner of the FA's approach. "There has been some contact with me but the way it was done was, for us at least, not so serious," added van Nieuwenhuizen. "They were interested in having a coffee or tea and finding out if he could be a potential candidate to be put on the shortlist. "We did not take it too seriously because you expect that if you are in the world of football then you know who Guus Hiddink is and what he has achieved on a club level and on a national level. "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. "He is totally out of the reckoning. That doesn't disappoint him at all. "If people have to find out if he could be a candidate to be put on a shortlist then I think this is sort of an insult to Guus and his achievements so far." However, FA director of communications Adrian Bevington would not be drawn on the claims from Hiddink's agent. He stated: "The FA's position is we don't discuss any individuals who may or may not have been approached for the England job."

Curbishley envies O'Neill status
Charlton manager Alan Curbishley says Martin O'Neill has been spared the pressure affecting the other candidates hoping to become the new England coach. Curbishley, 48, is on an unofficial shortlist to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup. He said: "You have a Curbs watch, a Sam Allardyce watch - but you can't have an O'Neill watch as he hasn't got anything going on. He's nice and cosy. "If you imagine the position we find ourselves in it's not right." He added: "Since Sven decided he was going to leave, it's been going on for two or three months and we've all got jobs to do, all got responsibilities to our clubs. "If you talk about how the teams have responded - Middlesbrough have responded to Steve McClaren, my team's lost one in nine." Curbishley says that whether he gets the England post or not, he wants to sit down with Charlton chairman Richard Murray in the summer and discuss his future. The 48-year-old has been in charge of the club since 1991 and admits the national team job is a world apart from working at The Valley. "If I do commit myself to this club it takes me into the 50s and people have been talking about me never having managed big players, never done this and never done this," he said. "So maybe in the summer I need to have a think about things. "Running a league team is totally different to running the national side. "If I drop somebody for the national side I wouldn't have an agent ringing me up saying why aren't I playing his client. It's a different set of rules. "As the manager of Charlton taking the team to Highbury, you are, like anybody at the moment, up against a superior team. "I don't think there are many superior teams out there where England have to talk about damage limitation. "People are on this apparent shortlist for what we've done at our clubs. That's a different job altogether."

Scolari 'out of England running'
Luiz Felipe Scolari appears to have ruled himself out of the running to become England manager. The Portugal coach is thought to be on the Football Association's shortlist but says he will not consider any job offers until after the World Cup. The Brazilian told Sir Stanley : "I'll think about my future after 31 July. I don't know what I'll do after Germany." The FA will announce Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor before this summer's tournament in Germany. Scolari, who guided Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002, has also told Sir Stanley that he has no plans to return to London and has agreed with the Portuguese football federation not to have any more contact with the FA. That would appear to leave the FA with four candidates: Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, Bolton's Sam Allardyce, Charlton's Alan Curbishley and former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill. McClaren remains the bookmakers' favourite following Boro's run to the semi-finals of both the FA and Uefa Cups. However, former England caretaker manager Howard Wilkinson, now chairman of the League Manager's Association, believes the process of finding Eriksson's successor should be simplified. "The list of future England managers should not be left until one day after the current manager has disappeared," Wilkinson told Sir Stanley, "All of a sudden everyone is in a panic, running round all over the place, sometimes not quite sure of what the credentials for the job are. "It gets the next bloke off on a bad foot, and that is why the process should be more streamlined and easier than this - certainly it should be quicker."

Scolari denies England interview
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says he has not been interviewed by the Football Association about becoming England's next manager. Several newspaper reports in England suggested the Brazilian was set to get the job after having an impressive second interview. "No, I don't (sic) have an interview," Scolari told Sir Stanley. "I am coach of Portugal and I am only thinking and speaking about Portugal until the last day of the World Cup." "But I have a contract with Portugal and I don't want to talk anything more about any contract until the last day of my job with Portugal." Scolari's cause is believed to have been championed by Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, who is part of the panel selecting England's next manager. But the Portugal boss denied that he had spoken to Dein about England. "No, no, no - he is my friend only. I wish all the best for him and Arsenal, but only this," Scolari said. "I agree with my president and all the newspapers in Portugal that we speak about World Cup for Portugal only, not more. "I have a contract with Portugal until 31 July and until this day I am coach of Portugal. "I don't think about England. If I think about England, I forget Portugal. That is not my job now, just Portugal." Scolari's agent Acaz Felleger added: "(Scolari) just needs... a good World Cup and after this he might talk about his future. "If the FA are really interested to sign him, they should have been focused on their work for the World Cup, like Felipe Scolari is at the moment." Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce said he would be very surprised if Scolari got the England job. "Is Scolari the new kid on the block at the moment?" Pearce said. "He certainly has an impressive record and has managed in lots of different countries. But people I speak to in the street all want an English manager. "The groundswell of opinion from the general public is that a British-based manager will get the job." Pearce, who is believed to be out of the running to replace Eriksson, believes too much notice is being taken of recent results. "If I was looking to appoint someone to do the national job their immediate run of results wouldn't overly matter," he said. "You cannot say whether someone is a good or bad manager over a period of three or four months. "But that seems to be the nature of the business we are in at the minute. "Steve McClaren started as 20-1 outsider but because of the run of results he is now the favourite." It has been suggested that Pearce could play some sort of coaching role in a new England set-up, but he says he is only focusing on Manchester City. "If a coaching post was ever offered to me I would have to speak about it," he said. "But as I stand at the moment, managing a Premiership team is a full-time job."

McClaren awaits England decision
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren said he is looking forward to the Football Association making their announcement on who will be the new England manager. Newspaper reports have claimed McClaren will be confirmed as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor on Thursday. "I am just looking forward to the matter being settled one way or the other," McClaren said after Boro's 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Monday. "The FA has gone through a process and will make a decision when they want." McClaren had been favourite for the post, but appeared to have dropped out of the running when the FA made a play for Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. But he was quickly re-instated as the bookies' choice for the post after Scolari dramatically ruled himself out of the running last week. But he insisted he was focusing on Boro's final games - they face trips to Bolton on Wednesday and Fulham on Sunday before next week's Uefa Cup final against Sevilla - rather than the England job. "I cannot focus on anything else just now than our next game," he said. "The FA have gone through their process. Everyone has adhered to it. Now we are just waiting for whatever decision they wish to make." Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley and Martin O'Neill are the other names in contention for the job. Allardyce said on Sunday that he believed he was still in the frame for the England job. He said: "I have been disappointed once and I thought it was all over when Scolari was offered the job. "But it has all turned around and it appears I am back in the frame. "I am more than keen - it is my dream job. I am in with a shout and I am hopeful, but until I get a phone call I will not know one way or another." Eriksson is to stand down after this summer's World Cup finals. And, despite the fiasco surrounding Scolari, FA officials want to stick to their original plan of appointing the next England manager before the World Cup. "A senior FA source has told Sir Stanley that Scolari's bolt from the blue took the headhunting committee totally by surprise," "But he insisted that the process was still on track because it was vital that the clubs whose managers are on the list knew where they stood." Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said on Monday that he was flattered to be considered as a candidate, but said he was committed to his club role. "It is a big honour to be talked about as though I am capable of doing the England job but I am not a candidate," he said. Scolari cited media intrusion for his U-turn but former England boss Sir Bobby Robson told Sir Stanley he found that hard to believe. "You can't tell me that the pressure from the English press is greater than the pressure from the Brazilian press," he said. "I've been in Brazil with England and I've seen the amount of media attention that surrounds the Brazilian national coach. "I would think there are 200,000 journalists in Brazil - and that's greater than it is in England."

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