O'Neill For England Rumbles On

Here we go again!

I was so hoping that Jose Mourinho would take the England job. Not because I think he would be best for the job, I don't - my personal opinion is an Englishman, or at least a British manager should manage our national site - but because it would have ended once and for all the constant speculation linking Martin O'Neill to the job.

Today in the Daily Express they claim that the Villa boss WOULD consider the job IF he was approached directly and offered the role, as opposed to the interview process of last time.

Reporters and pundits have been touting MON for some while and all say the same, if the FA make up their mind and make the package attractive, he will be tempted. He is also the one that many of the press and pundits seem to be mentioning over and over. I always watch the Sunday Supplement on Sky Sports each Sunday morning and basically to a man the guest reporters on their say that O'Neill is the obvious and ideal candidate.

The Daily Express report has no quotes, not even from 'a person close to' or 'an inside source' but never-the-less, it seems to be a popular opinion and now Jose Mourinho has apparently ruled himself out - again, the links are bound to grow. www.dailyexpress.co.uk

There is nothing Martin O'Neill can do about this, he has stated where his loyalties lie enough times in recent weeks, but would the loyalties be tested if he was approached? It is one thing turning down a hypothetical job but turning down a role he seems to have coveted for a good while might be a different matter. One of the press members on the Sunday Supplement suggested he had even got a get out clause in his Leicester City and Celtic contracts if he was approached for the England job. NO idea at all if that is true or not.

Interesting times. Lets hope all this talk doesn't have an unsettling effect. Surely it would be very difficult for MON to walk away after saying he had a job to do at Villa and assuring the players that he was there for the long haul?

The latest odds from William Hill are:

Fabio Capello 7/4
Jose Mourinho 5/2
Marcello Lippi 4/1
Martin O' Neill 7/1
Jurgen Klinsmann 7/1
Steve Coppell 20/1
Luis Scolari 20/1
Harry Redknapp 20/1
Alan Curbishley 20/1
Guus Hiddink 25/1
Gerard Houllier 33/1
Alan Shearer 33/1
Louis Van Gaal 40/1
Stuart Pearce 50/1
Rafa Benitez 50/1
Glenn Hoddle 50/1
Frank Rijkaard 50/1
Mark Hughes 66/1
Sam Allardyce 80/1
Martin Jol 80/1
Arsene Wenger 80/1

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