Gareth Southgate’s strongest hint yet that he will STAY? England boss ‘tells fringe members of the World Cup squad they are still part of HIS plans’ despite FA fears he will walk away
Gareth Southgate dropped a major hint that he will stay as England’s manager after the World Cup, having reportedly reassured fringe players that they are still ‘part of his plans’ in the future.
England crashed out of the tournament after suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat by France in the quarter-finals on Saturday. In the wake of the loss, Southgate said he would not make a ‘snap’ decision on his future.
Having previously marshalled the Three Lions to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and the Euro 2020 final last year, the FA are keen for Southgate to remain as England boss despite his side’s bitter exit from the tournament in Qatar last week.
Gareth Southgate ‘has reassured England’s fringe players that they are part of his future plans’
The England boss is weighing up his position following the Three Lions’ bitter World Cup exit
The 52-year-old’s contract is set to expire after England’s Euro 2024 campaign, but the manager is understood to be contemplating a resignation.
But acccording to Sky Sports, Southgate has held talks with the players who saw very little action at the World Cup, insisting they remain a key part of his future plans.
The manager wanted to speak to the players who hardly featured in Qatar to reassure them about their future within the England camp.
Offering guarantees to fringe players about their longevity in the team would be futile were Southgate planning to resign.
England crashed out of the tournament after their quarter-final loss to 2018 champions France
Free agents Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino have been linked with the England job since expressing interest in the position, although several fans and pundits including Jamie Carragher have called for an Englishman to take over should Southgate resign.
The ex-Liverpool star posted to Twitter on Tuesday: ‘The England manager should always be English!’
He has since been caught in a social media spat with former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys, who said the pundit’s views ‘bordered on racism.’
Southgate reportedly spoke with the players who saw very little match action at the World Cup
Carragher responded by labelling Keys a ‘sad, desperate man’.
Meanwhile, Sportsmail’s Chris Sutton has argued that the position should go to the best coach available, regardless of nationality.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and former Three Lions internationals Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have also been linked with the England job should it become vacant.
Ex-Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino would be on the FA’s shortlist should Southgate resign
