Alan Pardew has ruled himself out of the race to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss.
The 50-year-old Newcastle manager was installed as third favourite behind Tottenham counterpart Harry Redknapp following the Italian's resignation.
However, when asked about the speculation, he said: "Firstly as an Englishman, I am proud to be in that sort of frame, but it's not for me and I will make that quite clear.
"I am not even in the running as far as I am concerned."
Pardew added: "I am very, very happy here at Newcastle. We are on a little project here that's going really well and I want to see it through.
"The passion and everything about this place is why I want to stay here."
Pardew instead threw his weight behind Harry Redknapp's candidacy after the Tottenham manager's acquittal on tax evasion charges on Wednesday appeared to clear the way for his appointment.
He said: "I do hope it goes to an Englishman, just on a personal level.
"I think that's important this time, and I really, really hope that Harry and Spurs and everybody sorts themselves out and can do it in a manner in which it works for everybody.
"(West Brom manager) Roy Hodgson would have an opportunity and (West Ham boss) Sam (Allardyce) possibly - they are at the right age and right experience to do that role.
"Probably outside of them, there aren't too many leading candidates.
"There are a lot of young English coaches coming through, thank goodness, especially in the Championship, and I think we will be better set perhaps the next time (the job) comes around.
"But this time, there is an outstanding candidate in Harry and I just hope it all works out and it can be done in a manner that works for both Tottenham and England."
That process could take some time, but Pardew would be comfortable for England to head into the friendly clash with Holland later this month without having appointed their new boss.
He said: "You have got Trevor Brooking, Gareth Southgate and Stuart Pearce there - I don't see any problem in them taking that game, and I think that would be correct because even if the job is going to go down one road, let's say, Harry needs some time to settle himself and have some respect for Tottenham as well."
Should Redknapp eventually be appointed by the Football Association that would leave an attractive vacancy at Spurs, and having guided Newcastle to the unlikely heights of fifth place in the Barclays Premier League ahead of this weekend's round of fixtures, which coincidentally takes them to White Hart Lane, Pardew would inevitably be mentioned in dispatches once again.
However, he said: "I am quite happy where I am. I want to stay here and see this job through."
That is a message he will no doubt have passed on to owner Mike Ashley, who arrived at the club's Darsley Park training headquarters on routine business by helicopter moments after Pardew had concluded his pre-match press conference.
Post Comment
