As FA meets, Redknapp edges closer to England job

WEMBLEY, England — Endorsed by a growing number of English players, Harry Redknapp should move closer to becoming the new coach of the national team on Friday when plans to recruit Fabio Capello's replacement are finalized by the Football Association.

But with Tottenham hitting unprecedented recent highs under Redknapp, FA executives meeting on Friday will also consider alternative options if the widely respected manager cannot be prized away from White Hart Lane.

The groundswell of public support for Redknapp gathered after Capello quit on Wednesday in a dispute over fired captain John Terry, with the Italian plunging England's preparations for this June's European Championship into turmoil.

Now the FA is swinging into line with the national mood by stating a preference for a homegrown coach and recognizing the widespread backing for Redknapp, whose club is third in the Premier League.

"We of course understand the feeling of the nation and supporters, fans of England are very important when it comes to choosing the right person for the job," FA general secretary Alex Horne said Thursday. "But we have to sit down and look long-term and give ourselves as many options as are available. We owe it to ourselves to write up the job brief and make sure we sit down calmly and make sure we have an exhaustive list."

Two of England's most prominent players, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, have led the calls on Twitter for the appointment of Redknapp.

"We need an English manager now, we don't need anything else lost in translation," Ferdinand said. "Harry Redknapp would be my choice by a distance."

And he seems to fit the job description that will be completed on Friday by a four-man board led by chairman David Bernstein.

"The motivational qualities of a future England manager are absolutely vital, to be able to handle big players and motivate and excite both the players and the fans," Bernstein said. "We'd all probably agree that the quality of play and the level of confidence shown at Wembley is not quite where we'd like to be."

But persuading Redknapp to take the job beyond Euro 2012 might not be so clear cut, with another season still to run on his Tottenham contract.

Having been backed by Tottenham during a tax-evasion trial that ended with not guilty verdicts on Wednesday, Redknapp might want to remain loyal to a club on the brink of a second Champions League appearance.

The option is open for Redknapp to just coach England at June 8-July 1 European Championship before returning to Tottenham.