Redknapp: I Haven't Thought About England Job

Harry Redknapp has insisted he has "not even thought" about replacing Fabio Capello as England manager.

The Spurs boss - having been cleared by a jury of tax evasion on the very same day as Capello's resignation - is the favourite to take on the job.

But when questioned about the vacant post - just minutes before FA chiefs revealed details around the Italian's departure - Redknapp said: "I've not even thought about it.

"I've got a job to do. We've got a big game Saturday with Tottenham.

"Tottenham is my focus."

Asked about Capello's resignation, he added: "I was shocked. I didn't expect that to happen.

"We knew he was going to leave in the summer but we didn't expect that to happen now."

It came as FA bosses announced Stuart Pearce would take over the England manager's role for the next international against Holland.

Speaking for the first time since Capello quit following a row over stripping John Terry of the captaincy, FA chairman David Bernstein said: "(Pearce) knows the players very well.

"He just said if you would like me to do it, I would like to do it."

Following the match on February 29 the FA will focus on "getting the best person in place as soon as we possibly can", the chairman added.

"I'm not going to go into discussions on individuals," he said.

"We will do this as quickly and sensibly as we can but don't want to rush the process. We want to do it properly, do it professionally.

"We will put a shortlist together of key people. We will do it as soon as we can. It will be a major priority for us."

Mr Bernstein also would not rule out the possibility of England looking to an overseas coach to replace Capello.

"No, he will not definitely be English," Bernstein said.

"Clearly there is a preference for an English or British person, but in the end we want the best person."

And on the resignation of Capello, which followed a meeting at Wembley on Wednesday, Mr Bernstein said: "I think that long-term the things that we've done will be very much in the interests of the England team."

The manager, 65, who earlier this week publicly condemned the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy, resigned with immediate effect.

A statement from Fabio Capello, issued by his son, said: "I would like to thank all players, staff and the Football Association for the professionalism they have shown during my years as manager of the English National Team.

"A very special thanks to all the supporters: they've always supported the team and me in our job. I wish all of them every success in achieving all their sport goals."

However Sport Minister Hugh Robertson said he was "delighted" the FA had agreed with Capello that he should no longer be manager.

Speaking at Culture, Media and Sport Questions in the Commons, Mr Robertsonsaid: "I think it is a very great shame Fabio Capello has acted in the way he has.

"If a player in his team had behaved in the way he has behaved to the FA, he would have taken the toughest possible action."