The confirmation that the FA will consider overseas candidates, or even Scottish, Irish or Welsh candidates, may be seen as surprising, given it was widely expected that they would train the focus on finding the best English candidate available.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has emerged as the favourite for the post since Fabio Capello quit on Wednesday night, and with his East End roots the 64-year-old would fit the bill if nationality is a priority.
Stuart Pearce, the England Under-21 and Great Britain Olympic team boss, has been put in caretaker charge for the friendly against Holland on February 29.
But when asked if the new manager would be English, Bernstein said at a Wembley press conference: "No, he will not definitely be English.
"Clearly there's a preference for an Englishman. The position hasn't changed.
"There's a preference for an English person or a British person but in the end we want the best person.
"So I'm not prepared to rule out anything at this stage.
"Clearly an English or British person would have a good start on the matter."
Bernstein said the FA was "open-minded" when it comes to the appointment of the next boss, and did not rule out an initial part-time role.
He said: "We don't want to rush anything.
"There's no need to rush anything.
"We'll give it proper consideration and it'll have high priority."
Sitting alongside FA general secretary Alex Horne, director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking and England managing director Adrian Bevington, Bernstein said: "It'll be dealt with by the four of us.
"We've cleared diaries for tomorrow to start working on this."
Bernstein explained the search for a new boss was in its very early stage.
He said: "I don't want to pretend we've got plans in hand at this moment in time that we haven't got.
"But we'll be moving fast to get our ducks in the right boat."
Bernstein was keen not to get drawn into speculation over who could replace Capello in the long term, but promised the FA would act as swiftly as possible.
"I'm not going to go into discussions on individuals," he said.
"We will do this as quickly and sensibly as we can but don't want to rush the process. We want to to it properly, do it professionally.
"We will put a shortlist together of key people. We will do it as soon as we can. It will be a major priority for us."
Bernstein was confident England's preparations for this summer's European Championships in Poland and Ukraine remained on track.
"We are in very good shape in many ways," he said.
"The organisational matters for the Euros are in place - our base camp, training camp and all else. There's plenty of time. The squad won't get together until May so there is time for a new man to get in place and do what he needs to do building up to the competition.
"I think we're actually in a much better place than we appear to be."
Bernstein said it was important that the new manager was favoured by England fans, adding also that the new man would be allowed to select his own captain.
"We want to make an appointment that the public are positive about, but we can't be driven by that," he said.
"We have to do this professionally and with an open mind, but certainly with the desire and wishes of the fans.
"They (the fans) are crucial to us.
"I would expect an experienced top man to pick up the reins very quickly.
"The new manager will make his appointment as captain."
Post Comment
