FA CONFIDENT NEVILLE WON’T WALK AWAY
THE FA are convinced Phil Neville will stay on as England Women’s manager and want to keep him for the home 2021 European Championship and beyond. Neville also takes charge of the Team GB side at next summer’s Tokyo Olympics. he has been the subject of interest from Premier League and Football League clubs during an impressive World Cup run which was ended by the United States in Tuesday night’s semi-final. But the 42-year-old, whose players travelled to Nice for Saturday’s third-place play-off yesterday, is thought to have been fascinated for some time by the idea of leading a British women’s team to the Olympic Games. Neville discussed a three-year plan for the England side with the FA’s head of women’s football, Baroness Sue Campbell, yesterday. Campbell said: ‘he was talking to me about what he wanted to do. he signed up to a three-year journey and seems committed to it. We would love him to do it.’ It is thought the FA may look to improve the terms of Neville’s contract following a tournament which has
exceeded their expectations. After the semi-final defeat, Neville gave a clear indication that he wanted to stay on. He said: ‘I’ve started looking forward already. I was in a room this afternoon planning the next two years. I’ve had the best 18 months of my career, something my (playing) career had never given me.’ Meanwhile, England’s Jill Scott may have played in her last World Cup. Scott, who has featured in four World Cups, said: ‘I feel OK at the minute, but would it be realistic to say another four years? ‘I’d be 36, so it could be my last, but I’ve said before I don’t really like to think too far ahead. My aim was just to get through this one and then decide after that what the plan is. I feel good at the minute and I still feel I can compete at this level.’ Scott wants to be around for the 2021 Euros, with the Manchester City midfielder adding: ‘A home Euros would be fantastic. Hopefully we’ve gained a few supporters on this journey and hopefully they’ll stick with us.’