Redknapp in FA sights as Capello quits
Italian’s shock resignation over Terry captaincy row leaves national team rudderless and paves way for most popular choice to take job
FOOTBALL Association chiefs are poised to offer Harry Redknapp the England job after Fabio Capello’s shock resignation last night capped an extraordinary day and plunged the national team into crisis.
The Italian brought a premature end to his four-year tenure by dramatically quitting over the FA’s insistence on stripping John Terry (inset) of the captaincy – and chairman David Bernstein accepted his resignation.
Capello’s sudden departure came just hours after Tottenham manager Redknapp, the long-standing favourite to succeed Capello, walked free from court after being cleared of tax evasion.
A day of huge shifts in power leaves England without a manager just four months before the start of the European Championship, which was to be Capello’s swansong.
Conveniently for the FA, however, Redknapp’s acquittal removed the most significant barrier to his appointment and cleared the path for him to accept a job he has made no secret of wanting. The next task will be to establish if and when Redknapp would be willing to take charge, and open talks with Tottenham about compensation.
It is understood Spurs would not stand in the 64-year-old’s way, amid a groundswell of public support for his accession, but would demand the entirety of his contract to be paid up.
England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce is expected to be tasked with taking charge for this month’s friendly against Holland, possibly with director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking assisting.
Redknapp is unlikely to abandon Tottenham while their challenge for a first top flight league title in half a century remains alive, and Champions League qualification looks highly likely.
A more amenable solution for all parties would be for Redknapp to finish the season with Spurs before taking the England reins in time for Euro 2012, which starts in early June.
Capello’s resignation came after he challenged the FA’s decision to strip Terry of the captaincy last week while the Chelsea skipper awaits trial for an alleged racially aggravated public order offence towards QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.