This is The North East | Sport | Football

STEVE McCLAREN last night chose to overlook talk of him being one of the front-runners for the England job by claiming that leading Middlesbrough to UEFA Cup glory is higher on his list of priorities.

McClaren's odds for taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after this summer's World Cup were slashed by a number of bookmakers on Tuesday night and throughout yesterday morning.

But the Middlesbrough boss, who warned he would not be answering any questions regarding the situation at a press conference yesterday lunch-time, wanted to only talk about his role at club level.

"It's pure speculation and as far as I am concerned I don't deal in speculation," said McClaren, whose side face Basle in the second leg of the quarter-finals of the European competition tonight.

"Like I say to any players who want to play for England, and anyone else with aspirations, it is your performance at your club that count.

"I'm proud of my performance here so far and I would be even prouder if we got through on Thursday night to the semi-finals."

McClaren, although the Football Association have not confirmed such, is understood to be on a three-man short-list which also includes Martin O'Neill and one of Alan Curbishley or Sam Allardyce.

Added to that the former Manchester United number two is believed to be the man the England players would like to see installed, therefore his chances have increased even further.

"My CV is the same as it was two or three months ago," he said. "The record is there for everyone to see what I have achieved throughout my career and here at Middlesbrough.

"Two or three months ago we were talking about things for completely different reasons. That's football and it shows how things can change quickly."

Interviews are expected to take place next week but the FA remained adamant they had yet to make any decisions on the next England coach.

They released a statement yesterday which read: ''The FA wishes to clarify that the process of identifying and recruiting the next England manager continues.

''Chief executive Brian Barwick presented an update to the board on behalf of the nominations group mandated to manage the recruitment. The names of potential candidates were not discussed at today's meeting.

''The FA can confirm that we remain on target to make an appointment before the World Cup.

''At this time, no decision has been taken on who the next England manager will be.

''Due to the magnitude of the England team, this process understandably continues to attract a huge level of interest, which leads to intense media speculation.

''However, out of courtesy to all parties involved in this process, the FA has a responsibility to ensure a level of confidentiality is maintained until we are in a position to make an appointment.''

* Former Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson does not believe Martin O'Neill should get the England manager's job - because he is not English.

Robson said: ''I have nothing against foreign coaches but I would like to see an Englishman back in the job. English managers have proved they can do the job and do it very well."

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