Harry Redknapp ‘not thinking’ about vacant England manager post

Former England captain Rio Ferdinand has joined Wayne Rooney in backing the Tottenham Hotspur boss to take over at the head of the national side.

But asked about the England job as he drove away from his home in Poole, Dorset, Redknapp told reporters: “I’ve not even thought about it. I’ve got a big game Saturday with Tottenham.”

Capello quit as England manager last night after publicly challenging the FA’s decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy while he awaits trial in July for allegedly racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.

Redknapp, 64, who was acquitted of tax fraud at London’s Southwark Crown Court yesterday, is firm favourite to succeed the Italian.

He said he was “shocked” at Capello’s resignation but played down calls for him to take the England job, insisting that his “only interest” was Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United defender Ferdinand, who played under Redknapp at West Ham, wrote on Twitter: “I think we need an English manager now, we don’t need anything else lost in translation... Harry Redknapp would be my choice by a distance.”

Rooney wrote on Twitter last night: “Gutted Capello has quit. Good guy and top coach. Got to be English to replace him. Harry Redknapp for me.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron has said he was “sorry” to see Capello resign.

He said on a visit to Sweden: “I think he was a good coach and a good man. I don’t think he was right about the John Terry issue. You can’t be captain with that question mark that needs to be answered.

“England now needs a new coach and a new captain and I hope we can get on with that and make the best of the opportunity this summer.”

Mr Cameron sidestepped a question about whether Redknapp should take over, telling reporters: “The day when the Prime Minister picks the England coach will be a very bad day for football but I am sure we will find someone really good and I am sure that we will play well when the time comes.”

Spurs non-executive director Sir Keith Mills said it was “not a foregone conclusion” that Redknapp would be approached by the FA.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If he is, then clearly Harry has a big decision to make. I know he loves the club, he’s managing a top three team in the biggest league in the world.”

Sir Keith played down the prospects of Redknapp being allowed to do a jobshare, even if it were temporary.

“Clearly that’s not an ideal scenario. Clearly, trying to do two jobs is going to be a stretch for anyone,” he said.

David Davies, former executive director of the FA, backed Redknapp to become the new England manager, saying he had public support.

“Sometimes you get a momentum of public opinion behind one particular person and that is certainly there in this case,” he told ITV’s Daybreak.

“There are other strong candidates but the momentum behind Harry is there.”

Former England manager Graham Taylor said Redknapp was “made for the job” of leading the national team.

And ex-England striker Michael Owen wrote on Twitter last night: “Ever been such a strong public opinion when it comes to naming the next England manager? I don’t know anyone that doesn’t want Redknapp.”

He added: “Surely we will stick to an Englishman as our next manager. And that should run right through the squad from players to tea lady IMO (in my opinion).”

Speaking at a press conference at Wembley in the wake of Capello’s departure, FA chairman David Bernstein said: “I want to publicly thank Fabio Capello for all the work he has done.”

Mr Bernstein continued that Mr Capello had always “behaved with honour and dignity” and added of his departure: “We concluded matters with a handshake.”

He said that Capello’s interview with an Italian broadcaster on Sunday had created an “unsatisfactory situation”.

He said: “I met Fabio at his office yesterday and it was at that time that I accepted his resignation and I, on behalf of the board, agreed that it was the right decision.”

Capello left his London home early today with his wife Laura without commenting to waiting reporters.

Bookmaker William Hill has slashed Redknapp’s odds to 8/15 to take over the nation’s team in time for the first Euro 2012 match against France, while Coral stopped taking wagers on the bet.

Redknapp, who was unanimously cleared yesterday of tax dodging on £189,000 in a Monaco account named after his dog, said his bung “nightmare” should never have reached trial following the not guilty verdicts.

His acquittal alongside co-defendant Milan Mandaric marked a disastrous end for an £8 million investigation into football corruption by the tax authorities and City of London Police which failed to yield a single conviction.

Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has ruled himself out of the race to succeed Capello as England boss.