Robson objects to possible O'Neill appointment

Wednesday, 05, Apr 2006 09:29

West Brom manager Bryan Robson has said he believes the Football Association would be wrong to appoint former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill as England manager.

The Northern Irishman has been strongly linked with succeeding Sven-Goran Eriksson when he leaves the England manager's job after this summer's World Cup.

O'Neill is reportedly on an FA four-man shortlist to replace Eriksson but Robson insists this would be a wrong move.

"I would like to see an Englishman back in the job," Robson told the BBC.

"Bobby Robson went to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1990 and Terry Venables reached the semi-finals of the European Championships in 1996 so the English managers have proved they can do the job and do it very well."

The former England international, who won 90 caps for his country, had said after Eriksson announced he was leaving the post that he would be interested in becoming national team boss.

However, Charlton manager Alan Curbishley and Bolton's Sam Allardyce are said to be the leading English candidates.

Current Middlesbrough manager and England assistant coach Steve McClaren has also been linked with the job but the Boro chief insists he isn't leaving the club.

"It's pure speculation, and you know me and speculation - we never comment on each other," McClaren said.

"I'm very, very proud of what we have achieved so far at Middlesbrough but it's the same as it was two months ago, three months ago."

The FA has said that it wants to appoint Eriksson's successor before the World Cup begins in June.