SHAKESPEARE’S SWEET NOT SOUR

CRAIG SHAKESPEARE has admitted he could not have it all as a football manager.

The Leicester City boss was assistant to Claudio Ranieri and also No.2 to Sam Allardyce during the latter’s ill-fated reign in charge of England.

Shakespeare (above) would have been eyeing a trip to Russia this summer had Allardyce succeeded as Gareth Southgate later did.

But he says he would have had to choose between club and country, and said: “I’ve not allowed myself time to think about it. The fact is, I’m very happy here and how circumstances have worked out. I have a full-time job on here.

“Having experienced the workload at England and in the Premier League, it’d be very hard to do the two.

“What happened, happened. I had to deal with it and get on with what was in front of me.”

Shakespeare was the accidental victim in the sting that cost Allardyce his position. Although he lost his own job in the fall-out, he believes England can do well.

He added: “I’m pleased for Gareth. Not only is he a good coach, he’s a good person.

“We have to go with belief and confidence to Russia.”