ROY Hodgson has moved a step closer to becoming the new England manager after it emerged that his club, West Bromwich Albion, have allowed the FA to speak to the 64-year-old.

Former Inter Milan, Fulham and Liverpool boss Hodgson, also has a wealth of experience at international level, having managed Finland and Switzerland – amongst others – and is out of contract at The Hawthorns in the summer.

Albion are currently tenth in the Premier League but look like losing Hodgson, especially with the FA confirming that they haven’t approached Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who has been widely tipped for the role.

England want a new man in place ahead of this summer’s European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine and chairman of the FA, David Bernstein said: “I’m grateful to Jeremy and all at West Bromwich Albion for their co-operation in allowing us to approach Roy, who I have since spoken with.

“Roy is the only manager we have approached and we remain on course to make an appointment within the timescale we set-out soon after Fabio Capello’s departure.

“Further conversations will now take place with Roy and my Club England colleagues before any further announcements can be made.”

For more on this story, read Monday’s Ipswich Star and EADT.