By Andrew Warshaw
April 29 – Roy Hodgson (pictured) looks set to become the surprise choice as the new manager of England, ending months of intense speculation that has focused almost exclusively on the favourite, Harry Redknapp.
The English Football Association said it had been granted permission to talk to the much-travelled Hodgson, currently manager of West Bromwich Albion, about the position that was vacated when Fabio Capello resigned in the wake of John Terry being stripped of his captaincy.
Since Capello’s resignation, his assistant, Stuart Pearce, has been doing the job in conjunction with his role as head coach of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.
But it now seems likely that Hodgson will take over in time for the European Championship finals in Poland and Ukraine – and not Tottenham Hotspur manager Redknapp who had been described as the “people’s choice”.
“Roy is the only manager we have approached and we remain on course to make an appointment within the timescale we set-out soon after Fabio Capello’s departure,” said FA chairman David Bernstein.
“Further conversations will now take place with Roy and my Club England colleagues before any further announcements can be made.”
Interestingly, Hodgson, 64, would command minimal compensation, one factor which may have contributed to the FA’s move after the extravagant and much-criticised salary paid to Capello.
Hodgson has built up an almost unprecedented CV at an international level, including spells as the national coach of Switzerland, Finland and the United Arab Emirates.
In total, he has managed 18 teams at home or abroad, including two spells as Inter Milan boss.
But he will be remembered by many as lasting only six months at Liverpool, his last job before the current one at West Brom.
The four-man panel who decide on the next England manager are Bernstein, FA general secretary Alex Horne, FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking and managing director of Club England Adrian Bevington.
Fans of Redknapp (pictured above, right), currently the most successful English manager at club level, will be incredulous at the decision to go for Hodgson instead, having been linked with the job since the day Capello walked out.
England supporters’ spokesman Mark Perryman says fans should be told why Redknapp appears to have been overlooked.
“I think first of all, the FA needs to be open in terms of the situation,” he said.
“It’s almost inconceivable they haven’t approached Redknapp.
“It’s quite conceivable he has turned the job down but fans have the right to know.
“I am not saying Hodgson is the wrong man but clearly there was a popular mood around Redknapp.”
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