David Bernstein pips David Dein to FA chair

David Bernstein, the man chosen to be the new Football Association chairman, insists there is "a national desire" for the next England manager to be English.

The job of selecting Fabio Capello's successor - the Italian has stated he will move on after the Euro 2012 finals in 18 months' time - will be top of the list of Bernstein's tasks.

The 67-year-old former Manchester City chairman, currently chairman of Wembley and director of a number of large clothing retailers, was the surprise nomination by the FA board yesterday. Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein had been viewed as the front-runner but the nominations committee headed by Bolton's Phil Gartside chose Bernstein, with the main difference being his company boardroom experience.

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Bernstein's appointment is expected to be confirmed by the FA council on 25 January, after which he will turn his attention to a number of burning issues including Capello's successor.

Bernstein said: "I would prefer to see the best manager possible managing the England team. If he was English that would be preferable for obvious reasons and I think there is a national desire for that. I want to see a winning England team in due course - my job will be a lot easier if the England team is winning matches so anything that works toward that I am all in favour of. I believe that the chairman of the FA needs to be involved in major decisions concerning the England set-up."

Harry Redknapp is the bookies' favourite to succeed Capello, while Stuart Pearce, Martin O'Neill and Sam Allardyce are also contenders.

A chartered accountant, Bernstein was Manchester City chairman for five years, including when they secured the lease for new stadium at Eastlands, and he has been Wembley chairman since 2008.