Gareth Southgate says he wants to know within weeks whether he will be England’s next permanent manager.
The former England center-back was given the job on a caretaker basis following the Football Association’s dramatic decision to dispense with Sam Allardyce, whose one-game reign was ended by controversial comments he made to undercover reporters.
Southgate has been in charge for England’s past three games, including a 3-0 win over old rival Scotland in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley last Friday, a labored victory over Malta and a goalless draw away to Slovenia.
His caretaker stint ends with today’s friendly against Spain at Wembley and the 46-year-old, who has stepped up from the England Under-21 side, is clearly keen to stay on in the top job.
After the Spain clash England is not in action again until March and Southgate said: “It will be important for me to know what I’m doing after the middle of November.
“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 organization’s work.
“That’s not my decision in the end. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve done so far.
“It’s been a brilliant experience and very, very special.”
With England taking seven World Cup qualifying points from a possible nine and on course for Russia 2018, former Middlesbrough manager Southgate has gone some way to allaying fears about his lack of elite-level experience.
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(Via: NewsGhana)
