And the next holder of the poisoned chalice will be...

I'm sorry, did I say "poisoned chalice"? I meant "England manager's job".

Following the events of Wednesday night, which of course I predicted with about as much accuracy as an Alistair Darling economic forecast, Steve McClaren was inevitably removed from his post - though it's amazing how 2 million pounds can stop you from doing the honourable thing and resigning. The enthusiasm for replacing him has, of course, been overwhelming, about as popular as being offered the job as official Texas electric chair tester. It's quite like when Scotland tried to find a replacement for Craig Brown - it just happens to be a time where there are not many suitable candidates who happen to be unemployed, or who are looking for a way out of their current job (give Sam Allardyce a couple of months and he might fit the bill, mind).

So at the time of writing, out are Mark Hughes, Martin O'Neill, Jose Mourinho, Allardyce and Marcello Lippi. Alan Curbishley, a candidate previously, has been at West Ham less than a year. Fabio Capello is the only obvious big name who has put himself forward. He has no international management experience, but then neither did Sven, or Steve McC, or, well, pretty much anyone else who has had the England job. So big deal. Goodness knows he has a good CV, too, having won titles with Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid. And he might offer exactly what England need - a bit of solidity and tactical nuance. He's also used to setting out his side with only one striker, which is just as well when England don't really have many to pick from. But will the public be able to cope with a side that win 1-0 all the time? Good question, that.

Oh, and he's foreign. Might be a wee bit of a sticking point. But who's the outstanding English candidate? Harry Redknapp? There you go. So even though Sven is still fresh in the memory, it looks like it's going to have to be someone from outside these fair isles who takes the post. So Capello is the favourite, and unless the FA can wait till Big Phil Scolari becomes available in July, or tempt Guus Hiddink to abandon Russia a month after signing a new contract, it seems he's in a league of his own.

At least they haven't looked North yet, though. But surely Alex McLeish would never be considered, nor would he be tempted. I hope...

L.