It's time for homegrown England manager-Official
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-10 09:07

LONDON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Football Association vice-chairman Dave Richards, a member of the panel which will find Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor as England manager, says he would prefer a homegrown appointment.

"I do believe it's time for a British manager," Richards told newspapers on Friday. "Somebody who understands our passion, belief and commitment to the game.

"For me, there's no distinction between English and British."

Premier League chairman Richards, FA chief executive Brian Barwick and international committee chairman Noel White will report on the issue of Eriksson's successor to FA chairman Geoff Thompson before the FA board holds a meeting on Feb. 27.

The FA announced last month that Swede Eriksson would step down after the World Cup in Germany which starts in June.

Media reports say former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, Sam Allardyce of Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic's Alan Curbishley are among the front-runners for the job.

Richards said he regarded his involvement in the selection process as an honour.

"I think I am a very, very lucky man to be chairman of the league, to be involved in the international scene and I think it's a fantastic thing," he said.

"But I also take it very, very seriously. I think we have a duty of care to this game."

Richards said there was no guarantee the three-man group would identify the correct manager for the England job.

"We'll never be sure of making the right decision," he said. "You press guys spend a lifetime picking us up and then you'll spend three or four years bloody killing us.

"We are the biggest nation in the world that play this game. The Premier League is the biggest brand in the world of football and we consider this time that we want someone who really can move us on."