EURONLY AS GOOD AS THIS CONTEST
To the big kick-off... Shearer warns Hodgson: You could get sacked
England fans want to see some hope for the future, and to see that we are on the right lines going forward.”
Shearer, a BBC pundit in France, has never been in any doubt that the England team should be managed by an English manager unless there’s a good reason to do otherwise.
Having seen the England reigns of Sven Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello end in trophy disappointment Shearer’s belief that t he Three Lions manager should be home- grown has become ever more entrenched.
But with a lack of candidates presenting themselves with the right credentials even Shearer can see that there simply might not be an obvious Englishman to call on next if Hodgson fails in France.
“There might not have t o be one [ a replacement for Hodgson] if England do well. So first of all, that’s what we all hope.
“I would always go down the route of an English manager managing the England team. Definitely.
“But I wouldn’t rule out another foreign coach if there was no ready-made successor to Roy at the end of the Euros.
“There are a few English guys coming through who are starting off young and in the next couple of years they may be even more prominent.
“I’m thinking of guys like Eddie Howe, who has done well at Bournemeouth, and Sean Dyche – so there are new faces coming through which is good to see.”
Asked whether Gary Neville’s short-lived reign at Valencia has damaged his chances of stepping up from Hodgson’s coaching team, Shearer says: “Well, it hasn’t helped him has it?
“Gary is a very determined guy. I don’t think that’s the last we’ve seen of him. But I think there will be other people who will be given a chance. That all depends on what happens this summer. If Roy goes out there and does very well the FA will have to take a serious look at that.”