New FA chief says English manager ‘preferable’

The chairman-elect of the English FA has said there is a “national desire” for the next national manager to be an Englishman.

David Bernstein, nominated for the post by the FA board on Wednesday, will, if confirmed by the FA council next month, be responsible for overseeing the appointment process of Fabio Capello’s successor should the current England manager stick to his stated plan of stepping down after Euro 2012.

Wembley Stadium chairman Bernstein, previously chairman of Manchester City, told BBC Sport: “I would prefer to see the best manager possible managing the England team.

“If he was English that would be preferable for obvious reasons and I think there is a national desire for that,” the 67-year-old accountant, who sits on the board of fashion companies French Connection and Ted Baker, added.

“I want to see a winning England team in due course – my job will be a lot easier if the England team is winning matches so anything that works toward that I am all in favour of.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s English manager Harry Redknapp is the favourite with several British bookmakers to replace Capello.

The FA stuck with the Italian, who has been spoken of as a possible replacement for sacked Inter coach Rafael Benitez, despite England’s poor display at this year’s World Cup in South Africa where they crashed out in the second round.

Bernstein is set to succeed acting FA chairman Roger Burden, who announced he would step down following England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid because he “could not trust FIFA”.