cablefreejunkie
29th April, 2012, 10:37 PM
West Bromwich Albion have given the Football Association permission to talk to Roy Hodgson about the vacant England manager's position.
Hodgson, 64, has already spoken with FA chairman David Bernstein about replacing Fabio Capello.
Hodgson - a varied career
Born in Croydon in 1947
Played for Crystal Palace, Gravesend & Northfleet, Maidstone and South African side Berea Park
Started managerial career at Swedish side Halmstad in 1976
Has managed in Sweden, England, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark and Norway
Managed Inter Milan during two spells in the 1990s
Coached Switzerland at 1994 World Cup, was in charge of UAE from 2002 to 2004 and Finland between 2005 and 2007
Managed Blackburn, Fulham and Liverpool in the Premier League and moved to West Brom in February 2011
Bernstein said: "Roy is the only manager we have approached and we remain on course to make an appointment within the timescale we set out."
BBC Sport understands Hodgson will be interviewed on Monday.
The four-man panel which will decide who takes over from Capello are Bernstein, FA general secretary Alex Horne, FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking and managing director of Club England Adrian Bevington.
Bernstein approached West Brom on Saturday and was immediately given permission to speak to Hodgson, who is likely to be appointed within days in a long-term role.
It is expected any contract will cover the three tournaments up to and including Euro 2016, at which point he will be two months short of his 69th birthday.
Continue reading the main story
?If ever the people in charge decided I was the man they wanted then I would be delighted?
Roy Hodgson, speaking to BBC Sport in an exclusive interview in January
Hodgson's experience attracts FA
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp had been heavily linked with the job ever since Capello left the post in February, but the FA has decided to discuss the position with Hodgson, who has previous international experience from his time in charge of Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Finland.
In total, he has managed 18 teams either at domestic or international level, including two spells as Inter Milan boss.
Former FA chief executive Mark Palios does not believe the talks with Hodgson necessarily rule out a move for Redknapp.
He said the FA is "under pressure" to do something about the vacant job with Euro 2012 a matter of weeks away.
"Hodgson is a candidate they would naturally speak to," he told the BBC.
"West Bromwich Albion's season is settled and they are now safe. But this doesn't mean to say there aren't other people they would approach."
Hodgson, who had a disappointing time at Liverpool last season, has steered West Brom to mid-table in the Premier League.
And Albion chairman Jeremy Peace remains hopeful he will stay on at the Hawthorns.
Peace said: "Roy has done a fantastic job over the past 15 months and the fact the FA wants to discuss the England role with him is testament to that.
Analysis
Ian Dennis BBC Radio 5 live's senior football reporter
"This is an appointment for the long term with the FA looking at the wider picture. It's four weeks until the penultimate warm-up match for Euro 2012 but this decision is based on benefiting English football for the next four years.
"The choice of the next England manager was always going to divide opinion but nobody can argue with the level of experience Hodgson possesses at international level. That will be invaluable as he looks to harness the young talent and embrace the new home of English football development, St George's Park, to lay down a structure for the years ahead."
"Roy is a proud Englishman and we can understand why he wants to speak to the FA about this highly prestigious managerial position.
"However, we have emphasised to Roy how much we would like him to remain as our head coach and continue his major contribution to our project at the Hawthorns as we look to establish ourselves as a Premier League club.
"Everyone here has an excellent working relationship with him and he is immensely popular with our supporters."
England have two fixtures before their Euro 2012 opener against France on 11 June, with friendlies planned against Norway on 26 May and Belgium on 2 June. Hodgson's contract with West Brom ends on 30 June.
Stuart Pearce - who is in charge of both the England Under-21 squad and the Team GB Olympic set-up - is currently in temporary control of the national side and oversaw a 3-2 friendly defeat by the Netherlands at Wembley last month.
Pearce said he would be prepared to lead the team into Euro 2012 and stated earlier this week that he could name the squad on or around 10 May if no new manager was in place by that date.
West Brom end their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on 13 May.
Hodgson, 64, has already spoken with FA chairman David Bernstein about replacing Fabio Capello.
Hodgson - a varied career
Born in Croydon in 1947
Played for Crystal Palace, Gravesend & Northfleet, Maidstone and South African side Berea Park
Started managerial career at Swedish side Halmstad in 1976
Has managed in Sweden, England, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark and Norway
Managed Inter Milan during two spells in the 1990s
Coached Switzerland at 1994 World Cup, was in charge of UAE from 2002 to 2004 and Finland between 2005 and 2007
Managed Blackburn, Fulham and Liverpool in the Premier League and moved to West Brom in February 2011
Bernstein said: "Roy is the only manager we have approached and we remain on course to make an appointment within the timescale we set out."
BBC Sport understands Hodgson will be interviewed on Monday.
The four-man panel which will decide who takes over from Capello are Bernstein, FA general secretary Alex Horne, FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking and managing director of Club England Adrian Bevington.
Bernstein approached West Brom on Saturday and was immediately given permission to speak to Hodgson, who is likely to be appointed within days in a long-term role.
It is expected any contract will cover the three tournaments up to and including Euro 2016, at which point he will be two months short of his 69th birthday.
Continue reading the main story
?If ever the people in charge decided I was the man they wanted then I would be delighted?
Roy Hodgson, speaking to BBC Sport in an exclusive interview in January
Hodgson's experience attracts FA
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp had been heavily linked with the job ever since Capello left the post in February, but the FA has decided to discuss the position with Hodgson, who has previous international experience from his time in charge of Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Finland.
In total, he has managed 18 teams either at domestic or international level, including two spells as Inter Milan boss.
Former FA chief executive Mark Palios does not believe the talks with Hodgson necessarily rule out a move for Redknapp.
He said the FA is "under pressure" to do something about the vacant job with Euro 2012 a matter of weeks away.
"Hodgson is a candidate they would naturally speak to," he told the BBC.
"West Bromwich Albion's season is settled and they are now safe. But this doesn't mean to say there aren't other people they would approach."
Hodgson, who had a disappointing time at Liverpool last season, has steered West Brom to mid-table in the Premier League.
And Albion chairman Jeremy Peace remains hopeful he will stay on at the Hawthorns.
Peace said: "Roy has done a fantastic job over the past 15 months and the fact the FA wants to discuss the England role with him is testament to that.
Analysis
Ian Dennis BBC Radio 5 live's senior football reporter
"This is an appointment for the long term with the FA looking at the wider picture. It's four weeks until the penultimate warm-up match for Euro 2012 but this decision is based on benefiting English football for the next four years.
"The choice of the next England manager was always going to divide opinion but nobody can argue with the level of experience Hodgson possesses at international level. That will be invaluable as he looks to harness the young talent and embrace the new home of English football development, St George's Park, to lay down a structure for the years ahead."
"Roy is a proud Englishman and we can understand why he wants to speak to the FA about this highly prestigious managerial position.
"However, we have emphasised to Roy how much we would like him to remain as our head coach and continue his major contribution to our project at the Hawthorns as we look to establish ourselves as a Premier League club.
"Everyone here has an excellent working relationship with him and he is immensely popular with our supporters."
England have two fixtures before their Euro 2012 opener against France on 11 June, with friendlies planned against Norway on 26 May and Belgium on 2 June. Hodgson's contract with West Brom ends on 30 June.
Stuart Pearce - who is in charge of both the England Under-21 squad and the Team GB Olympic set-up - is currently in temporary control of the national side and oversaw a 3-2 friendly defeat by the Netherlands at Wembley last month.
Pearce said he would be prepared to lead the team into Euro 2012 and stated earlier this week that he could name the squad on or around 10 May if no new manager was in place by that date.
West Brom end their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on 13 May.