Gareth Southgate says he would have no fears in taking on the England job permanently. PHOTO/SKY.
LONDON, United Kingdom, Nov 15 – Gareth Southgate is yet to open talks with the FA over the England manager’s job, Sky sources understand.
Southgate will take his fourth game in interim charge of England on Tuesday night when Spain visit Wembley Stadium for a friendly.
The former England U21 boss has been in the job since Sam Allardyce stepped down 67 days, and only one game, into his reign after undercover newspaper reporters allegedly caught him discussing how to circumvent rules on player transfers.
Southgate has since overseen a 2-0 win over Malta and a goalless draw in Slovenia, with his most recent game seeing England beat Scotland 3-0 at Wembley in a World Cup European Qualifier.
According to reports which emerged on Monday night, Southgate has been offered a deal to take over until the end of Euro 2020, but Sky Sports News HQ understands talks over such a deal have not begun, with both parties comfortable waiting until after England’s game against Spain before any decision is made.
England are not in action again until an away friendly with World Cup winners Germany in March next year but Southgate said previously he hoped a decision would be made fairly quickly.
“It will be important for me to know what I’m doing after the middle of November,” he said. “We’ve got a European U21 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.
“That’s not my decision in the end. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve done so far.
“I’m immensely proud to have led my country for three games, with another on Tuesday, and to be involved in an England-Scotland game, which is as high pressure as they come. It’s been a brilliant experience and very, very special.”
