Howe: I’m not interested in England right now

Sarah Winterburn

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has committed himself to the Premier League club as rumours circulate regarding the England job.

Howe has been linked with the role after Sam Allardyce’s 67-day reign was terminated by mutual consent on Tuesday, after he was secretly filmed by the Daily Telegraph making a series of controversial comments.

The Cherries boss was linked with the job after Roy Hodgson left following Euro 2016, but Howe is keen to put the rumours behind him.

“They (the Football Association) haven’t come to me and my message is very similar. I am committed here, I love the job and I have a lot more to do here,” he said.

“I think I have said in many interviews that the England job is the ultimate job.

“I have signed players very recently and I am committed to them, I have a future to them, the rest of the season.

“It’s all hypothetical of course but I could not turn my back on this club. I want to show loyalty to the people who have employed me, the same loyalty that they showed me.

“It is very nice of (people) to say (that I am the right man for the job), but it has no bearing on my decision. My aims are to move this club forward, to try and lead this club up in the Premier League this season and that is my only thought.

“It sounds arrogant but I am not interested in the job now, but you never know what will happen in the future.”

Allardyce’s brief tenure was ended after a meeting with FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn on Tuesday.

Afterwards Glenn told FATV that Allardyce’s behaviour had “been inappropriate and, frankly, not what is expected of an England manager”.

Glenn also described the parting of ways with Allardyce as ”painful” and Howe admitted the situation presented a sad time for English football.

He said: “It was very disappointing, very sad. I think when anyone loses their job for non-football reasons, it is a real shame.

“It has been a difficult week for English football.

“The team needed consistency, they had chosen Sam as their man to lead them forward and I think he was the right choice so I think it is really sad for English football, it is the players that will suffer.

“Corruption has no place, I am sure everyone will agree, but the way Sam left his job, I will not comment on.”

The Daily Telegraph’s investigation into corruption has also alleged that 10 unnamed managers have taken bribes in player transfers, but Howe has distanced himself from the story.

He said: “(I have) certainly not (taken a bung).

“The structure at this football club is I deal with the team and somebody else does the financial deal with the agents.

“I am removed from the financial deals at the club and I think that suits me fine to be on the pitch with the players and training.

“I think most football clubs work how we do, that would be my guess.”