Barwick calls on 12 wise men to help FA choose the next England manager

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Brian Barwick met John Terry yesterday after revealing he would be consulting 12 wise men at the start of his search for a 'world-class' England coach.

FA chief executive Barwick, who will work with director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking on canvassing opinion, was in South Africa last weekend for the World Cup draw and while there he spoke to Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Roy Hodgson and John Toshack.

He has also spoken to Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

During the meeting with Terry, however, Barwick would have almost certainly reminded him of the standards the FA demand of an England captain after the salacious revelations that have emerged from the birthday party of clubmate Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Next on Barwick's agenda, he spoke to FA board members, had meetings with three football knights — Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Bobby Charlton— two former England managers, Glenn Hoddle and Graham Taylor, and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Barwick is sure to hear greatly contrasting opinions from the 12 men he has chosen to consult.

Beckenbauer has already publicly recommended former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann and Platini would have urged him to appoint an Englishman.

Terry is bound to recommend Jose Mourinho, even if sources close to the former Chelsea manager remain convinced he is only interested in another club job.

Mourinho would have taken the England job for the remainder of the season had they qualified for Euro 2008 but still chosen to sack Steve McClaren.

Intriguingly, Barwick's list of names does not include McClaren, Terry Venables or even Sven Goran Eriksson, even though McClaren offered to give his opinion on the best way forward for the FA after being dismissed last week.

According to Terry, missing out on next summer's European Championship has caused great distress to the players.

'It's going to take a long time to get over it,' he said. 'You don't want to come out of your house, you don't want people to see you. As time goes on, things heal and it gets easier day by day.

'At the same time, you're walking down the street and you're wondering whether people are looking at you and thinking “What's he doing out?”. Still, life goes on.

'It's very disappointing, for me being captain, and this happening, but we've got to make it work now in the World Cup. The draw's been made and we've got a chance to do that. We all need to regroup.'

As for facing World Cup qualifiers against Croatia — the side that beat England home and away in the Euro 2008 qualifiers — Terry said: 'They're going to be a tough games again. But we need to get the fans back on our side. We've let them down and need to bring the country up again.'

 

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