He thinks it’s Paul over
NEVER in his wildest dreams did Paul Simpson imagine that he would become only the second England manager to win a World Cup – then lose his job a month or so later.
But that is the harsh reality facing the man who steered England’s Under-20s to World Cup glory in South Korea.
As it stands, Simpson is employed by the FA as a specialist coach.
Managing the Three Lions’ first world conquerers since 1966 was just one part of the job.
He admits himself that there is a “very real possibility” that when the FA discuss the future with him at the end of next month he could be denied the opportunity to defend the trophy which has so captured the nation’s hearts.
Those who run English football are hardly likely to kick out a coach they rate so highly – after all,
he has just won the country’s first World Cup in 51 years.
But it is just the way the system works at St George’s Park where Simpson is based.
England’s previously unheralded hero, who is currently on a well-earned break in Florida, simply said: “I am hoping I have done enough to stay with the FA.”
That would appear to be as near to a certainty as you can get in football.
But there is a chance that his ‘reward’ for winning England’s first international honour in decades will be for someone else to take over the Under-20s job while he moves on to another.
If that does happen, Simpson will accept his fate with gratitude and hope that he has opened the door for some of the country’s brightest young talents to prosper big time.
He said: “As a kid you dream of playing for England but that boat had sailed for me so I went into this with my eyes wide open and it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
“The FA will have a chat with me at the end of July and I am just hoping I have done enough to stay with them.
“There is so much good stuff going on that goes under the radar and I am really enjoying what I am doing now.
“We have returned with World Cup winners’ medals and our hope for these fine young players is to get as much elite football as they can from now on.
“If clubs decide otherwise there is nothing we can do about it.”
Simpson, whose previous jobs in management took him to Carlisle, Rochdale, Preston, Shrewsbury, Stockport and even Northwich Victoria, was reluctant to single out particular players as he looked back on his side’s triumph.
But in revealing how difficult it was to get the best youngsters released for the tournament, two clubs – Bournemouth and Everton – got a special mention for their part.
Ronald Koeman sanctioned the release of five of his brightest young stars to join Simpson’s squad from Goodison Park.
The Cherries also allowed midfielder Lewis Cook to go to South Korea despite being a Premier League starter on nine occasions and at a time when they were still fighting for their top-flight future.
All of them – including talent like new Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke, scorer of 10 goals in 15 games for the Under-20s and Newcastle’s Adam Armstrong – now move on to a future in the Under-21s squad at least.
“It is out of our hands now and we just have to hope and keep our fingers crossed that they get enough game time to show what they can do,” Simpson added.