Town boss Paul Jewell says “people’s choice" Harry Redknapp would have the respect of the players and the goodwill of the supporters if he is handed the job of England manager. Redknapp is strongly tipped to succeed Fabio Capello, who resigned yesterday with the Town boss having some sympathy with the Italian.
Jewell said: "I think it’s quite unique in football. There’s always a people’s choice and Harry’s definitely the people’s choice, except I’d guess the Tottenham fans.
"He’s the people’s choice and I think he’s also the one that would get the nod from people in football as well.
"Players, managers, coaches and supporters, everyone seems to be behind Harry and the England situation. Certainly he would have the respect of the players and the goodwill of the supporters.”
The Blues boss says he can see why Capello decided to step down after the FA stripped John Terry, who is due to stand trial in July over allegations that he racially abused Anton Ferdinand, of the England captaincy: "You’re always going to be surprised when a manager resigns four months before a tournament, but there were obviously a few rumblings.
"I think the decision [to strip Terry of the captaincy], whether it’s the right one or the wrong one, wasn’t taken by the manager and I can understand Capello’s annoyance at that because at the end of the day he’s the manager. He needed to be consulted I feel, and by the sounds of it that decision was taken away from him.
"He thought they questioned his authority, and I can see that. But I can see the other side of the story. If they felt something needed to be done with John Terry — which I don’t really have a view on as I’m too busy trying to run my own club — it has to be done jointly behind closed doors where they decide what they’re going to do.”