• England news

FA not ruling out foreign successor to Capello

ESPN staff
February 9, 2012
Harry Redknapp is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Fabio Capello © PA Photos
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Football Association chairman David Bernstein has reiterated his desire to see an English manager at the helm of the national side, but stressed that the job must go to the "best person" available.

The FA is on the lookout for a new England manager following Fabio Capello's decision to step down on Wednesday evening.

Stuart Pearce has been placed in caretaker control for the friendly with the Netherlands on February 29, which hands the board breathing space to seek out a successor to Capello.

The FA has always maintained that the desire is to appoint an Englishman, with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp the favourite, but Bernstein will not limit his search to within this country.

When asked if the new manager would be English, Bernstein said: "No, he will not definitely be English.

"Clearly there's a preference for an Englishman. The position hasn't changed. There's a preference for an English person or a British person but in the end we want the best person.

"So I'm not prepared to rule out anything at this stage. Clearly an English or British person would have a good start on the matter."

Senior players from within the England squad, including Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, have called for Redknapp to get the job - while he is the preferred choice of the majority of fans. And Bernstein has admitted the FA wants to appoint someone who the supporters can rally behind.

"We want to make an appointment the public are positive about," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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