Southgate's pitch is in for top job

GARETH Southgate is awaiting the Football Association's verdict after completing his formal interview to become England's next manager.

Southgate, who took charge of the national side for the past four matches on an interim basis, met with a five-man panel for three hours St George's Park yesterday, and Press Association Sport understands no other candidates have been invited for interview at this stage.

INTRIGUE

Barring a major unforeseen stumbling block, Southgate's name will go forward to an FA board meeting on November 30, when his confirmation as Sam Allardyce's successor could be rubber-stamped.

The sudden availability of Jurgen Klinsmann, sacked last night as head coach of the United States, provides a minor element of intrigue as he was linked with England before Allardyce's ill-fated appointment, but the unflattering end to his time in America has hardly burnished his credentials.

Assessing Southgate's pitch was an FA panel comprising of chairman Greg Clarke, chief executive Martin Glenn and technical director Dan Ashworth, with League Managers' Association chairman Howard Wilkinson and former England left-back Graeme Le Saux also present in an advisory capacity.

The 46-year-old has made a favourable impression on the decision-makers, taking seven points from nine in World Cup qualifying ties against Malta, Slovenia and Scotland before signing off last week with a 2-2 friendly draw against Spain.

The strong stance he took in dropping captain Wayne Rooney for last month's clash in Ljubljana have also marked him out as someone capable of holding the top job.

On top of that, the former Middlesbrough manager is well versed in FA protocols, planning and procedures from his three and a half years in charge of the under-21s.