Lee Carsley not guaranteed England job as FA holds talks with other managers

Despite interim manager’s positive audition so far, Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard remain on the FA’s radar

England have left the door open in their hunt for a permanent manager by sounding out a number of external candidates.
Telegraph Sport can reveal that, despite Lee Carsley’s encouraging audition as interim head coach so far, the Football Association has spoken with other managers.
Carsley is currently considered the favourite to permanently succeed Gareth Southgate, but the FA is keen to explore all options before making a final decision.
It is understood that the FA has spoken to a wide variety of managers, but refused to comment on the process or the identity of those candidates.
Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard remain on the FA’s radar, while some sources still claim that Pep Guardiola would be its dream appointment.
Jurgen Klopp has already ruled himself out of the running, while Mauricio Pochettino has been confirmed as the new head coach of the United States national team.
Carsley, though, is the current favourite for the permanent post after securing two wins from his first two games in interim charge.
Not only did England beat Republic of Ireland and Finland, Carsley impressed FA chiefs with his handling of the debate surrounding him not singing the national anthem and made some brave squad and team decisions.
Carsley confirmed this week that he had been given six games in interim charge, which means the next matches he must prepare for are those against Greece and Finland in October ahead of the final double-header of that spell, against Greece and Republic of Ireland in November.
The FA will continue its appointment process until then with a view to settling on a permanent successor to Southgate, whether that is Carsley or somebody else, before the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign kicks off.
Carsley’s next test will be to integrate star players Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, who all missed his first two games in charge, into his squad and team in October without upsetting England’s balance.