The English Football Association is understood to be days away from appointing Steve McClaren as the successor to England manager Sven Goran Eriksson after the collapse of its approach to Luiz Felipe Scolari.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick and his four colleagues charged with finding the new manager had long settled upon the Middlesbrough coach as the first alternative to Scolari.
Barwick had called McClaren, Sam Allardyce, Martin O'Neill and Alan Curbishley on Sunday to apologise that the choice of Scolari had been leaked and to tell them that no contract had been signed.
Hours later, after Scolari said that he was no longer interested in the England job, Barwick called all four candidates and told them they were back in the frame.
Allardyce made one last bid for the job yesterday, saying: "I've always said it's my dream job and I'd believe I'd be very good at it at this stage of my life."
McClaren has been hit with further tabloid revelations about his affair with a Boro employee, but it is understood that they are unlikely to affect his chances of landing the job.
- INDEPENDENT
Soccer: Way clear for McClaren to succeed as England manager
Steve McClaren
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