Don't delay in giving Redknapp the England manager's job, warns Terry Venables

By Andrew Warshaw at Soccerex in Manchester

March 29 – Former England manager Terry Venables (pictured) has added his voice to the clamour to give the England job to Harry Redknapp in succession to Fabio Capello.

Venables, who managed England from 1994 until 1996 and guided the team into the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championships, told delegates here that he believed the Tottenham Hotspur boss was the right man but needed to be appointed quickly.

“I think Harry is the candidate but it’s gone on too long for me and no-one seems to really know what’s going on apart from those that are in the seat,” Venables said.

“They may know what’s going on, I don’t know whether they do.

“The more time you can get in that job the better.

“There’s nothing for you doing it off cold.

“You need everything in your favour because it’s such a big job.

“They have to get someone in there straight away do to something about it.

“I don’t see any benefit at all in coming in at the last moment.”

Capello quit in February after a disagreement with the English Football Association (FA) over the decision to remove Chelsea defender John Terry as captain of the national team.

Stuart Pearce is currently doing the job on an interim basis and Venables says whoever takes over long term has to be English.

“I can’t get to grips with that [foreign England managers],” he said.

“I never have.

“You can go for anyone in the world for the Champions League and Premier League.

“But internationally it’s like what went on in wars – you can’t trade generals, you have to go for your own.

“Spain and Germany always go for their own.

“I would rather lose with our own people.

“Some of our guys deserve a chance and can do it.”

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