Gartside backing Capello to stay

Prominent FA member Phil Gartside has voiced his support for under-fire England coach Fabio Capello.

Roy Hodgson would have been an obvious candidate to replace the Italian should the FA decide to get rid of their £6million-a-year boss in the wake of the shambolic World Cup campaign.

However, it appears the Fulham chief has finally decided Liverpool is to be his summer destination and is due to be confirmed as Reds boss by the end of the week.

It leaves the FA scrambling around for an alternative, or electing to stick with Capello.

The prospect is unpalatable for some given the woeful performances in South Africa.

However, Capello has indicated his desire to stay, the FA have already backed themselves into a corner by agreeing to remove the break clause in a contract that now runs to Euro 2012 and Bolton chairman Gartside feels Capello should be given more time.

"It's not his fault," Gartside, who is also a member of the 13-man FA international committee that must ratify an eventual decision, told the BBC.

"He has done a good job. He needs to get on with it. I hope he stays and I think he will stay. It's not about the money. We have to be strong."

With Hodgson seemingly out of the running, Harry Redknapp would be installed as favourite.

However, with a court case for alleged fraud pending, the FA may deem Redknapp is too much of a risk, in which case their options are severely limited.

Current England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce has impressed senior figures within the FA hierarchy but was heavily involved in England's training programme in South Africa and may find his reputation - which he has just about restored following his dismissal by Manchester City in 2007 - has been slightly tarnished by association.

Alan Curbishley is also still available, but after being overlooked when Steve McClaren got the job four years ago, it is hard to see how the former Charlton boss would be an attractive proposition now.

There is a body of thought that feels David Beckham, with suitable coaches alongside, could act as a figurehead as Diego Maradona has been for Argentina.

Yet the inspiration Maradona has provided his team in South Africa is at odds with the shambles of qualification, when Argentina almost did not make it.

It lends credence to the view that the FA would be better sticking with Capello, whose track record, until the last five unbelievably bad weeks, is virtually unblemished and, given his contract situation, would have to be paid in some manner whether he was working or not.