The Football Association are believed to have whittled their search for the next England manager down to a shortlist of five candidates. Here, PA Sport looks at the contenders.
JOSE MOURINHO
The former Chelsea boss appears to be emerging as the favourite with reports of his interest in the post increasing. Is likely to prove an expensive choice but the Portuguese would certainly be a popular choice with the fans.
MARTIN O'NEILL
Still thought to be in contention despite repeatedly trying to distance himself from the job. Was in the reckoning after the departure of Sven-Goran Eriksson and has done his reputation no harm since with a developing Aston Villa side.
FABIO CAPELLO
The candidate who has most openly championed his cause. The Italian former Roma and Real Madrid coach clearly wants the job and would bring a confidence and winning pedigree. Is easily available as he is currently out of work but his English is poor.
MARCELLO LIPPI
World Cup-winning Italy coach has come into the running in recent days and certainly has the required experience. Has tasted considerable success at domestic and international level and is also available. Like Capello, however, he speaks little English.
JURGEN KLINSMANN
Impressed in his spell as Germany coach during last year's World Cup before quitting due to problems trying to combine work with a home life in Los Angeles. Knows the English game well after his spell with Tottenham who might also prove a popular choice.
Rift in FA over successor?
The Football Association have dismissed suggestions of a rift between England powerbrokers Brian Barwick and Sir Trevor Brooking.
Between them, FA chief executive Barwick and director of football development Brooking have been tasked with the job of finding Steve McClaren's successor as England coach.
"There is no truth in any suggestion of a problem between Brian Barwick and Sir Trevor Brooking, or a conflict or difference of opinion of any sort in appointing the next England manager," said FA director of communications Adrian Bevington.
Reports have emerged of a major difference of opinion between the pair with Barwick said to want a 'world-class' continental manager, while Brooking is adamant he wants an Englishman in charge, probably in the form of West Ham boss Alan Curbishley.
Although he was interviewed last time around, Curbishley has never seemed likely to figure prominently in the FA's thoughts on this occasion and in any case, has already ruled himself out of contention.
"It (the dispute) is totally without foundation," Bevington added. "It is misleading to the public and grossly unfair on Brian and Sir Trevor, who are going about their work in a completely professional manner.
"This is not helpful at a time when we are doing all we can to ensure we get the right man and the best man for the England job, which is what the fans all want."
The FA are moving closer to appointing a new England boss, with former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho still firmly at the centre of speculation over the vacancy.
It had been suggested Mourinho had come to the UK for an interview after the FA admitted to contacting his agent but other reports claim he is in Portugal - and does not have any plans to leave.
The FA will shortly conclude their wide-ranging consultation process.
Mourinho for England - why not?
Jose Mourinho has admitted he could be the next England manager but has cancelled a planned return to London in a bid to stop further speculation linking him with the job.
In a short interview with Sky Sports News, Mourinho said he was remaining in Portugal because nobody would believe he returned to England to see family and friends.
Mourinho declared: "I am in Portugal. I would like to be in London with my family for a couple of days but nobody would believe the reason why I would be there - to see friends and family and do some Christmas shopping.
"So to try to stop the speculation I decided not to go and stay here. It is sunny and beautiful."
But, when asked if he could be the next England manager, Mourinho replied: "Why not?"
Off camera Mourinho said the England post was a big one and the type he was looking for but he denied he was using the Football Association in a bid to get a club job.
Earlier the FA had denied reports that they were set to meet with Mourinho and had already held talks with Fabio Capello.
FA chief executive, Brian Barwick is believed to have drawn up his shortlist of candidates to replace Steve McClaren after talks with a number of figures within the game.
Mourinho and Capello are thought to be at the top of the wanted list. Capello has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid last summer and is keen on the England job.
Mourinho has refused to rule himself out of the running but the FA played down suggestions that Barwick had invited the former Chelsea coach over to England for talks or that they met with Capello last week in Italy to discuss the job.
Wenger: England manager must be English
Arsene Wenger is in no doubt the next England manager must come from within - and sees no reason why the likes of Middlesbrough coach Gareth Southgate should not be in contention.
On a day when former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho kept his name in the frame, Wenger backed Southgate as a possible contender to succeed former Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren as England boss.
The Arsenal manager, who takes his Premier League leaders to the Riverside on Sunday, was one of the senior figures within the game consulted by Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick in the quest to find McClaren's successor.
The FA insist they will appoint the "right man" for the job, regardless of nationality, with former Chelsea manager Mourinho and Italian Fabio Capello two high-profile leading candidates.
However, Frenchman Wenger has long maintained the job of coaching the national team would be best served by an Englishman - including the likes of rookie boss Southgate, the former England defender who took over from McClaren at Boro and whose side are third from bottom.
"You have plenty," the Arsenal manager declared, when asked who could step up to the challenge.
"You have [Harry] Redknapp, [Alan] Curbishley, [Steve] Coppell, Southgate, [Stuart] Pearce, [Sam] Allardyce, [Martin] O'Neill also. They are all good enough.
"But you do not rate them enough. Give them a chance."
Wenger continued: "I do not understand your logic because when people play with the English national team, you want them to represent the qualities.
"So why do you go for a foreign guy? You are very nationalistic, you want the English national team to do well - and suddenly, 'oh now we want a Portuguese or an Italian to represent our national qualities'.
"It is like you go to war and you say 'now we chose a general from Portugal, or a general from Italy to lead our army'. Would that cross your mind? Never."
Wenger believes the lack of experience at the top level would not hinder the coaching transition into international management.
"They are different jobs," he insisted.
"In the club, you are a guy who needs football experience, who needs to make decisions on who to buy, when to buy, when to sell, to build the team and have a vision of how you want to play. In a country, it is different.
"You do not have all these problems. You just take the players available. There are no big choices, big decisions to make."
Wenger would not reveal the details of his discussion with Barwick.
However, the Arsenal manager maintained: "I am here to help if I can.
"I am not convinced I am a big help and Brian Barwick's problem with or without me will be the same.
"I will not have a big influence."
Wenger added: "I have an impression of what they will do, but I don't tell you."
The FA have scotched reports they had already held talks with Capello and were set to meet with Mourinho.
The former Chelsea boss, however, revealed he had cancelled a planned return to London - which would have included some Christmas shopping with his family - in a bid to stop further speculation linking him with the England job.
But, when asked if he could be the next England manager, Mourinho replied: "Why not?"
Clearly, whether or not to opt for another foreign appointment continues to cause much debate.
However, FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking has lashed out at reports of a rift with Barwick.
Suggestions of a major difference of opinion between the pair emerged, with Barwick said to want a 'world-class' continental manager, while Brooking is adamant he wants an Englishman in charge, probably in the form of West Ham boss Curbishley, who was interviewed the last time around.
Brooking rubbished talk that his relationship with Barwick had taken a serious downturn.
"There is no disagreement whatsoever between Brian and me on who the next England manager should be. In fact, we are agreed on the way forward," Brooking insisted.
"We are both totally committed to working together to find the right man for the job.
"Specifically, it is completely untrue that I have been backing Alan Curbishley for the job. I have never been asked about Alan."
The FA also categorically denied meeting Capello and privately distanced themselves from reports that Barwick would be talking to Mourinho within the next 24 hours.
"It is absolutely not true that we have met with Fabio Capello," said an FA spokesman.
"There have been no meetings with potential candidates at this time."
The FA have elected not to get involved in the daily push for Mourinho from outside sources, insisting they will take their time in making an appointment and not be railroaded into one.
But, once Mourinho has given a firm indications of his plans for the future, the FA can move accordingly, with Capello another live candidate as is Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi.
As a long-time admirer of current Villa boss O'Neill, Barwick will want to establish whether the Ulsterman's forceful public rejection of any interest remains the same in private.
Jurgen Klinsmann's claims cannot be totally discounted, even if the California-based German remains an outside bet.
