Mark Bullingham, the Football Association’s chief executive, delivers an update on the future of England manager Gareth Southgate, who has been tipped to step down from his post after Euro 2024.
Mark Bullingham, the Football Association’s chief executive, has confirmed that the organisation has as “succession plan” in place for the potential departure of England manager Gareth Southgate after Euro 2024.
Southgate has spent almost eight years in charge of England and has won 58, drawn 21 and lost 16 of his 95 games across all competitions.
The 53-year-old has come up short with the Three Lions in the last two major tournaments, losing in the final of Euro 2020 on penalties to Italy before exiting at the semi-final stage of the 2022 World Cup.
Southgate’s England contract is due to expire in December and his long-term future is uncertain, with the ex-Middlesbrough boss recently admitting to German media that ‘if England don’t win, I probably won’t be here anymore’.
In response to those comments, Bullingham has insisted that it would be wrong for the FA to set targets on how far England must go at Euro 2024 in order for Southgate to remain in charge.
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Bullingham issues update on Southgate’s future
“I think setting an arbitrary figure isn’t the right way to go,” said Bullingham. “I think we step back and look at everything after the tournament.
“[The team] could go further but be playing poorly or have a really unlucky result where you get a couple of red cards and hit the woodwork three times.”
Bullingham has since confirmed there is an agreement between all parties to sit down after Euro 2024 has finished to “talk about everything” and make a decision over Southgate’s future in charge.
“Gareth has been really, really clear that he wants to talk about that after the tournament,” Bullingham added. “And I don’t want to provide any distraction for him and the team, and I want to respect the fact that he wants to talk about the future after the tournament.”
Bullingham has been frustrated by reports suggesting that the FA does not have a plan in place to find a successor for Southgate and has since set the record straight, adding: “I’ve seen some things about, ‘Have we got a plan, haven’t we?’ Any organisation has a succession plan in place for their top employees, and we are no different to that.
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Bullingham denies Southgate approach amid Man Utd links
“A succession plan normally includes everything from what you do for the short-term cover, through to a process you follow, through to [drawing up] a candidate pool. We have that for all our top employees.”
“Without frustrating you enormously that’s really all I want to say on that topic. Just because I want to respect Gareth and the team that they are very focused on the tournament, and we want to be supporting them with that focus. Clearly, you plan lots of different scenarios for all your top employees all the time.”
Bullingham has also denied suggestions that the FA have received an approach from any club over Southgate’s availability amid reported interest from Manchester United.
Sky Sports News claims that Southgate is keen to take a top job in club management if and when he decides to leave England, and the Watford-born boss has been heavily linked with succeeding Erik ten Hag at Man United, who are soon set to appoint former FA chief Dan Ashworth as sporting director.
However, it is now understood that the Red Devils have decided to stick with Ten Hag as manager and have opened negotiations with the Dutchman over a contract extension.
Southgate will lead England into their opening Euro 2024 Group C fixture against Serbia at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, before the Three Lions face Denmark and Slovenia in their final two group-stage games.