Jewell: Give England job to the best man

Wigan manager Paul Jewell has welcomed indications that the next England boss will be British – but insists ultimately the job should go to the best candidate regardless of nationality.

Premier League chairman Dave Richards, who along with Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick and international committee chairman Noel White will present a list of candidates for the job to a full Football Association board meeting on February 27, has stated today he favours a British manager to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson when the Swede stands down after this summer’s World Cup.

Jewell told BBC Radio Five Live: “It is quite interesting that Dave Richards said British. I hope the best man for the job gets the job. It would be ideal if it could be an Englishman but give it to the best man.

“We’ll see if we can win the World Cup with a Swede, that would be nice.”

Jewell has become an outside bet for the job after his stunning achievements in leading the newly-promoted Latics to sixth in the Barclays Premiership and to a place in the Carling Cup final.

His own chairman Dave Whelan proposed a partnership of Jewell and Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce to lead England once Sven-Goran Eriksson stands down after the World Cup.