Despite the fuss over Fabio Capello, FA could go for another foreigner

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is the hot favourite to take over with FA officials previously indicating their preference for a home-grown appointment.

But Bernstein admitted it is too early to rule anything out and insists they will select the right man for the job regardless of nationality.

The chairman will begin the process tomorrow with
FA general secretary Alex Horne, director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking and England managing director Adrian Bevington.

Dutchman Guus Hiddink and Portuguese Jose Mourinho have also been linked with the job and Bernstein said: "We will do this as quickly and sensibly as we can but don't want to rush the process. We want to do it properly, do it professionally.

"We will put a shortlist together of key people. We will do it as soon as we can. It will be a major priority for us.

"It's very early days. This has all happened less than 24 hours ago, so I don't want to be too prescriptive about that. The four of us will be sitting down tomorrow to look at this varied issue clearly. It will get priority but I don't want to pretend we've got plans in hand at this moment in time that we haven't got.

"But, believe me, we'll be moving fast to get our ducks in the right row. He will not definitely be English. There clearly is a preference for an Englishman. I've been asked this question persistently and the position hasn't changed, that there is a preference for an English person or a British ­person.

"But, at the end, we want the best person. I'm not prepared to rule out anything at this stage but, clearly an English or a British person would have a good start in the matter."

The FA will begin the process after Capello walked away from his ­£6million-a-year job last night. Talks were head at Wembley with a first meeting involving several FA officials before a short break.

At a second meeting with just Capello and Bernstein present, the Italian offered his resignation which was accepted "in the best interest of all ­parties".

"There was no ultimatum," said Bernstein. "The first meeting was a question and answer session on both sides and we left that meeting really for him to think about the situation and for us to do the same. He was put under no pressure at all at the first meeting."

Bernstein insisted Capello was not asked to resign but hinted at the underlying problems exacerbated by the FA's decision to strip the captaincy from John Terry given he awaits trial for a racially aggravated public order offence. The player denies the charge and Capello was furious at a decision taken without his consultation and voiced his concerns to an Italian radio station on Sunday night.

Bernstein said: "The backing of John Terry clearly wasn't helpful the way it came across and the way it was communicated. And it did give the impression of a conflict, a difference of view between the manager and the board, and that's something in any football organisation one doesn't want. We went into the meeting with an open mind. There were serious issues and we've been very concerned about the fallout from Sunday's interview."

Capello only picked up a limited amount of English during his reign but Bernstein insisted: "The language has been okay. There was a degree of an issue about it and telephone conversations, for example, were not the easiest. But we got by perfectly okay for the past few years."

Capello is rumoured to have been paid £1.5m in compensation - although the FA refused to comment - and his record salary prompted questions over whether the 65-year-old's appointment in December 2007 was a mistake.

Bernstein said: "It was certainly expensive but it wasn't a mistake. He has been a great manager in his time and he has done a great deal of good for us. No one's will defend the South African World Cup performance but the qualifications that we've had have really been perfectly acceptable."

The FA insist there is no timescale for a replacement and are "open-minded" about the possibility of a part-time manager because they insist the operational plans for Euro 2012 are all in place.

"I believe we will look in very good shape in two or three months," said Bernstein.