THE vice-chairman of the Football Association yesterday defended the appointment of a foreign manager of the England team.Barry Bright, who was in Suffolk for the renaming of the county's headquarters, said of Fabio Capello's appointment: “Whoever had been appointed there would have been some people against it.

THE vice-chairman of the Football Association yesterday defended the appointment of a foreign manager of the England team.

Barry Bright, who was in Suffolk for the renaming of the county's headquarters, said of Fabio Capello's appointment: “Whoever had been appointed there would have been some people against it.

“The board of the FA have decided to move with the experience of Mr Capello, and over the next two years we will all know whether it has been a brilliant appointment or not.

“There are a lot of people who would like to see it return to an English coach-cum-manager, and many people here in Suffolk will point to the success of Sir Bobby Robson, who is one of the greatest ambassadors for the game and was also a fine England manager.

“Hopefully the day will come again when there is a cache of English coaches and managers who want to take the job.”