THE FA are prepared to wait until the end of the season before making an approach for Harry Redknapp to become England manager.
Redknapp has pleaded for time to consider his future after the ordeal of his two-week tax evasion trial.
While the FA insist they will also approach other candidates about succeeding Fabio Capello, who resigned as manager last week, they have indicated to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy that they do not want to disrupt the final phase of the White Hart Lane club’s season.
Levy, in turn, is expected to wait until the end of the campaign before opening talks with his manager about a new contract.
Redknapp has 15 months left on his £3.1million-a-year deal at White Hart Lane as well as a £5m ‘transfer fee’ to be paid in addition to his contract if the FA move in for him.
Redknapp is known to want time before deciding his future following the resignation of Capello, who quit after being critical of the FA’s decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy.
But the Tottenham manager is mindful of the unwavering support he received from his club and their fans throughout his court ordeal.
The FA gave a broad hint that a foreign alternative to Redknapp has been discussed at board level.However, the Spurs boss remains first choice and the public’s choice to succeed Capello.
Ledley King, Redknapp’s captain at Tottenham, sounded confident his boss would not turn his back on his side while they are bidding for the Barclays Premier League title, even if he sounded resigned to losing him after that.
“What will happen in the summer will happen in the summer,” said King. “For now the gaffer will be here. I don’t read too many papers but I am sure he will be here until the summer.”
King, whose side battered Newcastle 5-0 on Redknapp’s first appearance in the dug-out since being cleared of tax evasion, added: “It’s just the same as having good players in the team. People will always be interested in them. That is football.
“Harry has done a terrific job here, so it’s not a surprise (that England want him). But, from our point of view, we want to keep him.”
Redknapp, meanwhile, offered a glimpse of how England’s midfield could look if he does take charge of the national side as he waxed lyrical about the return of Paul Scholes to the Manchester United side.
Scholes, 37, has been at his best since coming out of what he has admitted was a hasty retirement.
Although Redknapp was keen to avoid talking about England after his side’s sensational thrashing of Newcastle, he could not resist it when it came to the United man.
He said: “Age doesn’t matter. Look at Paul Scholes. Let’s be honest, you would love to have Scholes in the Euros this year.
“He’d be in your team, he’s that good. Whoever’s there would love to take him, I’m sure. You’d love him to play. He plays like the Spaniards, like Xavi, or Iniesta –he doesn’t give the ball away.”
Capello, meanwhile, is already exploring other options, with big-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala preparing to make an official approach this week
Anzhi, bankrolled by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov, confirmed yesterday they intend to fire manager Yury Krasnozhan, who was appointed only in December.
That leaves the club free to make official contact with Capello, who arrived in Moscow on Saturday and is expected to have talks this week. – Daily Mail