Thursday 29 September 2016 13:37, UK
Wales boss Chris Coleman has comprehensively ruled himself out of the running to succeed Sam Allardyce as England coach.
Former Bolton and Sunderland manager Allardyce left his job with the Football Association after just 67 days on Tuesday evening following a newspaper sting.
And after naming his squad for the upcoming World Cup double-header against Austria and Georgia, Coleman, who guided Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, was unequivocal in his reply when asked if he would be interested in filling the vacancy.
"My answer would be a big fat no," he said. "I think the next England manager should be an Englishman. I don't think it
should be someone from overseas - I don't care what his record is.
"I know how much it means to me to manage Wales. Unless you are from that country, you can never ever know how much it means to represent your country.
"Why should England look further afield? Are they going to be with Gareth (Southgate), Brucey (Steve Bruce) or whoever they are going to go with? That's where they should be looking.
"Certainly not a Welshman. Well, not this Welshman, anyway. England should look at what they've got. There are good English managers there, and that is where they should be looking."
And Coleman, who has had spells in charge of Fulham, Real Sociedad and Coventry, admitted sympathy for Allardyce insisting England have missed out on a 'proud, passionate manager'.
"I am really disappointed for Sam. I was with him in Paris last week for a coaches' conference," he said. "I have known him a long time, and I knew how much he wanted the job.
"I also know how proud he was he had got it and I am gutted for him that he has lost his job through events off the pitch, rather than on the pitch.
"I knew how passionate he was about the job, and I think he would have done a good job. You expect England to qualify (for the World Cup), and then you are judged on the tournament. Sam knows how to win big games. I think he would have done very well in the tournament.
"I know Sam will be absolutely devastated. He made a mistake, I think he has admitted that, and it's a shame. He has just let his guard down, and he has lost his job, which is a huge disappointment.
"Nowadays, the way it is, social media, you can't look left or right. It's crazy, really. I can't say I have ever felt that someone was trying to set me up. It's a shame where it has come to that when there is a chance you could be
set up.
"But that's where we are, and we have to make sure we are aware all the time. You let your guard down for five minutes, and there is always someone there waiting to cast a cloud over you."
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