Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is the "obvious choice" to become the next England boss if the Football Association (FA) want an English candidate, according to former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson
The FA are casting their net wide in the search for the successor to Roy Hodgson, who announced his resignation within minutes of England's humiliating Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland in Nice earlier this month.
Jurgen Klinsmann, Guus Hiddink and Arsene Wenger have all been linked with the post after FA chief executive Martin Glenn revealed that foreign candidates would be considered, but Ferguson believes that Allardyce is unquestionably the most qualified English choice.
"The problem is there was an expectation England would do well and because they didn't, it's all a bit flat," Ferguson said of England's disastrous Euro 2016 campaign. "So they need to work out what the plan B is.
"It's very difficult to think of the right man and there are only three English managers in the Premier League. With Sam [Allardyce]'s experience, he is the obvious choice.
"But I think they have to search wider to make sure they get the right one. If it's Sam, fine. But they have to have someone with the capabilities, the tactical awareness and the feel for the national side.
"Thank goodness I'm not making the choice because it's a difficult one but Sam's the best English candidate because he's in the Premier League."
The limp manner of England's exit from Euro 2016 has led to a fresh search for explanations as to why they continue to struggle in major tournaments, and Ferguson insists the lack of a winter break in the hectic Premier League schedule is a major factor.
"The league programme English players go through -- to then play a major tournament after that makes it impossible," he added. "In Germany they have a rest in December and January and teams who play in a better climate must be better prepared than English players.
"They don't even get a month's rest because they played three friendly games and they're training from June 12. That needs to be addressed."