Venables: Don't sack Mac

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McClaren's position has come under heavy scrutiny since the loss to Russia on Wednesday, which left England in danger of failing to qualify for Euro 2008.

Cool heads: Venables (left) wants the FA to keep Steve McClaren (right)

But Venables, a former England manager himself, believes that with backing, McClaren will put things right in the long term.

Venables told The Sun: "I understand that if we don't qualify there will be a feeling that it is time for a change.

"But there is also a need for commonsense and someone has to say 'yes' or 'no' to what we are doing.

"We are not even out of Euro 2008 yet. There could still be some twists and turns.

"It is time for cool heads and to calm down and have a proper look at what is going on.

"Is it really worth going on another long search for a new manager? Do we know that is going to win us one of these competitions?

"Or is it better to stick with what we have because deep down, those in authority know we are going forward?

"We will never win something like a World Cup if people don't follow their intuition and, instead, keep ripping it all up and starting again."