Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Roy Hodgson content with England contract extension situation - FA chief

MANCHESTER -- Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn has insisted Roy Hodgson is happy to be left in limbo as he waits to discover whether he will be given a new contract as England manager.

The 68-year-old's current deal expires after Euro 2016 but while Glenn gave him his backing by declaring he is the outstanding candidate to manage his country, talks about an extension will not begin until next year.

England have the only 100 percent record in qualifying, after winning all eight games to book their place in France, but Glenn is waiting to discover if they underachieve in Euro 2016.

"Roy is very comfortable," Glenn said at the Soccerex convention in Manchester. "He knows it is a results business.

"Myself and Roy have a very good relationship. He is by far and away the best coach we could have for England. He has vast experience. Roy Hodgson has learned a lot from the last two tournaments."

Hodgson's predecessor Fabio Capello signed a contract extension before the 2010 World Cup, only for England to struggle in the tournament in South Africa, and Glenn does not want a repeat.

"We want to avoid the slightly unsavoury situation we had with Fabio Capello at the World Cup," he said.

Since Hodgson's appointment three years ago, England have reached the quarterfinals of Euro 2012 but were knocked out of the 2014 World Cup in the group stage.

But Glenn believes England have a new generation of players and is confident they will improve.

"The manager has had a difficult hand of cards with the World Cup situation," he said. "It was quite an ageing squad that did not have the rebuilding that was needed.

"A lot of young blood has come in and I think the average age is under 25. The team is different, the mood of the team is different. We will do better in the Euros and better in Russia [in the 2018 World Cup]. Things are getting better."

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