England’s Football Association are in quite the predicament currently, with number one coaching target Harry Redknapp reportedly reluctant to take up the post, leaving them short on time to make an ideal decision.
With approximately three months to go before the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, the clock is ticking for the Three Lions.
Since Fabio Capello’s shock departure, Redknapp has been the main target to took over.
However, reports now suggest he doesn’t want to leave Tottenham before the end of the Premier League season. He’s certainly made it clear he doesn’t want to leave them in the lurch.
You can understand that considering what he’s built there in the past few years. They are still in the title race, albeit with remote hopes.
There has now been talk Redknapp could finish the season at Spurs, then take up his post with England. However, that seems less than an ideal situation.
Redknapp simply won’t be able to juggle the two jobs in the meantime. And there is work to do, monitoring his players, pondering his options and beginning plans for opponents. Plus the final 23-man squad will need to be selected late in the league season.
On all this, England midfielder Scott Parker said this week: “There’s a lot of talk about Harry Redknapp coming to England. And I’m sure he’s got a very good chance. But the players need to know our role.”
If Redknapp can’t put his hand up soon, caretaker boss Stuart Pearce, who is steering the ship in the meantime, may well be England’s next best option to take charge at Euro 2012 with preparations needing to be made.
Pearce said after Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Netherlands: “I would be confident taking the squad to the Euros, that wouldn’t daunt me at all.
“I don’t think after that period I have the experience for the job. All I’m doing is buying the Football Association some time. The full-time manager of England at this moment in time is probably somebody else, not me.”
However, as some journalists are suggesting, Pearce could be teamed with an experiened boss at Euro 2012. Perhaps that could be Redknapp? Perhaps that would be difficult to work? Who makes the decisions?
It’s hard to know the answer, but with the clock ticking, England will need to soon accept they can’t get an ideal scenario.
Pearce, with an experienced assistant on short notice, seems to be the Three Lions best option.