The Football Association will decide this weekend
whether to hand Stuart Pearce the England Under-21 job on a
full-time basis.
Pearce took the Under-21s to the semi-finals of the European
Championships earlier this month and is the frontrunner for the new
position.
Although the tournament in Holland was his sole focus, Pearce was
appointed in a part-time capacity in January before he lost his job
at Manchester City the day after the Premier League season
finished.
The plan is for the new Under-21 boss to have a wider role in youth
development, with Ray Clemence also having an instrumental part
with England's younger age groups.
Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's director of football development,
said: "I had a discussion with Stuart, and made recommendations,
and this weekend there's the board meeting.
"We hope to have some news next week. It's a full-time position
with the Under-21s, with other additional work with Academies,
centres of excellence, looking at the teams to work the way
through.
"Ray (Clemence) is head of the national teams, and Stuart would
have a key role to work with Clem to identify individuals to
fast-track.
"Stuart would also go out to a lot of clubs, deal with senior
coaches as well as Academy coaches. Steve (McClaren) already goes
out. So with two people with their credibility, that would help the
club-versus-country issue which can be sensitive."
The relationship with clubs was tested in the build-up to the
recent European Championships, with Gabriel Agbonlahor failing to
contact the FA to confirm his call-up. Aston Villa boss Martin
O'Neill blamed mis-communication.
David Bentley then pulled out of the squad - leaving them a player
short for the tournament - citing fatigue after a gruelling season
with Blackburn.
The coach's role being on a match-by-match basis or on a short-term
contract was seen as a contributing factor to the perception of the
Under-21s, prompting calls for a permanent man to be in
place.
England boss Steve McClaren wanted a full-time Under-21 boss when
he was appointed last summer, although the FA board never finalised
the appointment meaning Sammy Lee was not offered the job he was
earmarked for.
Brooking added: "We need a steer from the board and where we would
get funding.
"We have to decide: A, can Stuart do it. B, does he want it. And C,
who else is involved?
"We could resolve it sooner, or maybe later. I am conscious that
Stuart wants to know what he is doing as well."
