FA bigwig tips Harry

TOP TIP ... Harry Redknapp

PHIL GARTSIDE has become the first FA board member to publicly support Harry Redknapp for the England job.

The Bolton chairman broke ranks to say the Spurs boss would make an ‘outstanding England manager’.

Gartside is not part of the four-man team who are choosing the next manager but will be one of those asked to ratify the decision.

The four men who will select the preferred candidate are director of football development Trevor Brooking, general secretary Alex Horne, Club England managing director Adrian Bevington and FA chairman David Bernstein.

In an interview to be broadcast by BBC World News this weekend, Gartside makes it clear where he stands on the replacement for the departed Fabio Capello.

He insists that Englishman Redknapp is a ‘good motivator with a winning mentality’.

The FA have been at great pains not to champion one particular candidate so far, maintaining there is more than one man in the frame and that no approaches have yet been made.