Gareth Southgate: Interim England manager wants future decided within a month

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Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate has led England to two wins and a draw from his three games in charge
International friendly: England v Spain
Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Tuesday, 15 November Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport app; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app

Gareth Southgate wants to know within a month whether the Football Association will appoint him as England manager.

The 46-year-old's last game as interim manager will be Tuesday's friendly against Spain at Wembley (19:45 GMT).

An FA committee will then make a decision on who will be given the permanent job - with England Under-21 boss Southgate the heavy favourite.

"It will be important for me to know what I'm doing after the middle of November," he said.

"We've got a European Under-21 Championship to prepare for and the seniors have got their next round of qualifiers [in March].

"Of course everybody is going to want to know, I guess, by the end of November, middle of December, where everything is heading so we can decide who is responsible for which parts of the organisation's work."

Southgate, a former England defender, was effectively handed a four-game trial period by the FA after the abrupt end to Sam Allardyce's 67-day spell in charge in September.

He has led the national team to seven points from a possible nine in World Cup qualifying, and they lead Group F by two points following Friday's 3-0 win over Scotland.

'The challenge is continuity'

Asked about whether he wanted the England job in his news conference before the Spain friendly, Southgate said: "I don't think now is the time for those discussions.

"Everything is about the team. I am not a coach for whom what happens to me is the most important thing.

He added: "We've got some players really open to improving, are desperately keen to play, want to do well for their country. We have some terrific athletes which means the style of play can be very much on the front foot.

"The challenge is continuity. My view of managing has always been you manage every game like you are going to be there forever.

"For any club or organisation you have to think about long term, not just short."

FA chairman Greg Clarke, technical director Dan Ashworth, chief executive Martin Glenn and League Managers' Association chairman Howard Wilkinson will decide who will be England's next manager.

Southgate's only job at club level was at Middlesbrough from 2006 and 2009, but he is not worried about a lack of experience.

"Maybe you prove yourself at a smaller one first or maybe you don't," he said. "Pep [Guardiola] was straight in at Barcelona having worked with the B team.

"Everybody's path is different. I don't think there is an ideal pathway."

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280 comments

  • He can have a decision right now.

    NO.

  • It's no scapegoat, no attack on Man United. Rooney has not met the levels of what is expected from an England player let alone captain. He seems to struggle against 'lesser' international sides and is the polar opposite of his old self.

    Based on your selection alone Mr Southgate you should not be given the job, and until he's dropped from the starting XI you haven't got a chance with the fans.

  • Southgate's cheap and available. In our qualifying group, anyone could manage England to the world cup. The problem is when we get there we're crap.

  • What's the hurry Gareth, There isn't a line of teams clambering for his signature. And clearly any manager can get us to the world cup.

  • I just don't see what he has done to take this team forward. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss?

  • I intend to follow Southgates example and will be informing my boss I want a decision on my promotion within a month.

    I intend to inform the media of my ultimatum and no doubt with the full weight of the Sudbury Mercury bearing down on him my boss will capitulate.

    If no offer is forthcoming I will have no other option but to grow a beard.

  • Southgate sure looks like he'll dance on the strings of the FA puppet-masters, so I don't doubt he'll be given the 'Managerial' role

  • Thanks for helping out Gareth, but we're hoping on Mr Wenger.

    Close the door on your way out.

  • We need the best man for the job, wherever they come from. English speaking a requirement though. I don't think Southgate is the man to inspire and change. Hearing that Neville may manage under 21's confirms to me that the FA just doesn't get it. They are the real obstacle in building a good England team. Cronyism before talent and old boy money pit.

  • Southgate fits the FA profile for a manager perfectly-no managerial experience at top level, will pick players on reputation instead of form [Rooney Vardy etc], wont rock the boat and no skeletons in the cupboard.

  • #9

    Glenda is sitting in a studio for a few good reasons.
    1) His disgusting comments regarding disabled people
    2) His lunatic beliefs i.e. Eileen Drury
    3) He is out of date. His spell coaching at QPR under Redknapp was disastrous.
    4) The blindingly obvious. If he was good enough, he'd be managing somewhere, instead of sitting on his butt talking nonsense to TV cameras.

  • Here's an immediate answer for you, Gareth:

    "NO THANKS!"

    (England were awful in all your 3 matches so far. You picked the same dross as before, and there were no discernible tactics on display. Rubbish!)

  • Not surprised, he wants a £3M annual salary before the FA find out what fans already know - he is a waste of space !

    What are your international management credentials Gareth ?

    Oh - you don't have any - quelle surprise !

    Just another 'yes' man destined to look good until we get beat by another team ranked 50-100 places below us . . . . . .

    .

  • Objectivity is required, a non-British manager who can address the mental approach. Look at Eddie Jones with the rugby, or the bloke with the cricket, both non-British. My pick is Klopp, but doubt he' take it.

    The FA knows FA.

  • England played just as poorly against Scotland as they did against Iceland and where lucky to come away with a win never mind a 3-0, so NO he shouldnt get the job but probably will cause he is a "yes man".

    The FA are and always will be the root of the problem with our national team selection

  • I think I'd want to know pretty quick if I was being offered a 3 million quid-a-year job too !!

    Especially if I knew I had to achieve a total of nothing, then get a handsome pay-off when I failed & eventually got sacked !!

    ............ and the British public moan about doctors getting paid over 100K per year ?????

  • The dark age continues

  • How about the FA cut what they pay their England managers by half and the money go towards developing coaching in the country, so that the England managers they actually appoint are twice as good?

  • Bit like having a zero hour contract Gareth .. welcome to a bit of the real world mate ...

  • What a merry go round. Another FA political puppet. The players are the number 1 issue. Their attitude is the 95% reason why the English team WILL underperform until there is a football revolution. The only reason why you would want the job is to ensure a huge pay off after the next WC when we fail in the KO stages. Simple as that.

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