Sam Allardyce backed for England by ex-FA chairman, as reports claim he wants the job

After Under-21 coach and FA favourite Gareth Southgate ruled himself out the running to succeed Hodgson yesterday, backing is growing for Allardyce, amidst claims from the Sunderland manager's ghostwriter today that he is interested in taking the job.

Allardyce has received support from ex-FA chairman David Bernstein, who believes the 61-year-old could address the mental issues which seem to plague England players at major tournaments.

Bernstein - who left his role three years ago - has no regrets over appointing Hodgson, despite England's awful elimination from Euro 2016 against minnows Iceland earlier this week, but believes Allardyce is the right man to succeed him.

"I'm not saying we should have an English manager but, of the English managers, I actually would go for Sam Allardyce," Bernstein told the Daily Telegraph.

"He's a very powerful character.

"I think he's got the personality, the strength, he's a good technical manager, he's very experienced and he's someone who perhaps could imbue confidence.

"Because, clearly among other things, there's a psychological problem with our players, where they seem to get to a stage with international football where they just can't cope, and that's manifest time and time again, year after year, in individual errors which you just wouldn't expect from players."

Bernstein's support comes amidst reports from Allardyce's ghostwriter - the Sun's Shaun Custis, who penned his autobiography last year - that he would accept the job, if offered it.

That would come as no surprise after Allardyce has previously admitted that missing out on the England post is one of the regrets from his managerial career.

However, the bigger question is whether the FA would even consider Allardyce.

Despite his superb record in club management, the only occasion on which Allardyce has been seriously in the running for the England job was back in 2006, when the FA opted for Steve McClaren instead.

McClaren lasted just 18 months before he was fired after failing to qualify for Euro 2008.