Southgate to be temp man for England

LONDON – England under-21 coach Gareth Southgate looks likely to be put in temporary charge of the national team after the resignation of Roy Hodgson following the side’s Euro 2016 exit, British media reported yesterday.

“Southgate is believed to have already been asked whether he is prepared to take over on a temporary basis and has indicated that he is,” the Daily Telegraph said.

A three-man Football Association (FA) panel has begun the job of finding a successor to Hodgson, who resigned in the wake of England’s humiliating 2-1 defeat by Iceland in the last 16 of the European Championship on Monday.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn has suggested that England might wait to fill the post because it is “such an important decision”, meaning it is unlikely they will have a new man permanently in place before their first World Cup qualifier away to Slovakia on September 4.

British media said that opened the way for former England centrehalf Southgate.

The prospect of a delay has intensified speculation that Frenchman Arsene Wenger could take the post in the long term.

Wenger is in the final year of his contract with Arsenal.

Other names linked with the job include Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, possibly in tandem with former England international Steven Gerrard, Hull City’s Steve Bruce, former England manager Glenn Hoddle and Italian Claudio Ranieri. –