NEWSFLASH - Scolari pulls out !

[Cookie]

News just in!! Scolari has pulled out of the England Managers job because of intrusion into his personal life. (Sky sports)

[Boney Crisp]

these bloody tabloids.

[Gate Watcher]

Our tabloid media are like piranhas.

[TonyM]

GOOOOOOOOOD.

[P.W.]

[color:"blue"]Will he be at Hartsdown tomorrow? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/busted.gif" alt="" />

[Cookie]

Luiz Felipe Scolari has thrown the Football Association into turmoil by announcing his withdrawal from the race to be England manager.

 

Portugal boss Scolari had been offered the job and the FA thought they had their man.

 

But the Brazilian delivered a bombshell when he made his shock statement from Germany where he was examining Portugal's World Cup facilities.

 

He said he was unwilling to deal with the pressure of journalists camped outside his house.

 

It leaves the FA with a serious problem because their second choice Steve McClaren is deeply unimpressed with the way the selection process has been handled.

 

McClaren, an employee of the FA as England coach, has received no information from Soho Square regarding the Scolari approach.

 

He assumed he had been overlooked in favour of the Brazilian but was disappointed to have not received even a courtesy call.

 

Suddenly the situation is very different.

 

Scolari said: "I will not be the next England coach. I was one of numerous candidates. I will be the Portugal coach until the end of the World Cup.

 

"Last night there were 20 reporters outside my house. I don't like this pressure so I will definitely not be coach of England."

 

The FA revealed Scolari had contacted them ahead of his announcement to tell them he was pulling out.

 

An FA statement said: "Luis Felipe Scolari this afternoon made The FA aware of his intention to release a statement regarding the England head coach position.

 

"It is no secret that Mr Scolari is one of the candidates that The FA has spoken to as part of the recruitment process.

 

"We will now reflect on his announcement before making any further comment as we move forward with the process."

 

Scolari is known to be a strong-minded man, unlikely to have been impressed by the idea of the FA rail-roading him into a decision.

 

He had a gentleman's agreement with the Portuguese FA not to make anything public until after the World Cup.

 

But that was overtaken by events when FA chief executive Brian Barwick was found to have met him in Lisbon to discuss the job.

 

The Brazilian would not have been impressed if he had felt pushed into pinning his colours to England before the World Cup finals.

 

Scolari said: "Portugal at this moment cannot cope with a coach negotiating with other federations - they don't really need it at the time being.

 

"Yesterday I talked with a few friends who helped in my decision. There were 20 reporters in front of my house - that was too much and I didn't like it all.

 

"I have been in talks with the English FA and I want to thank the Portuguese Federation president (Gilberto Madail) for giving them the chance to talk to them.

 

"I am not and will not be the England coach but I am happy the English federation remembered my name and I expect them to name the new coach in the days to come.

 

"It was an interesting offer with several interesting options."

 

Scolari claims to have had interest from Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid for his services when he leaves his job with Portugal after the World Cup

[TonyM]

GOOD,now give the job to a man that knows how to get the best out of the English players,come on you old farts at the FA,give the job to Stuart Pearce and have done with it.

[Cookie]

Didnt you mean JIM WARD Tone! ha ha ha

[TonyM]

No I said a man.

[Boney Crisp]

If he is going to be English then Stuart Pearce sticks out the most, all the others will struggle as England boss as they are not in the press much where Stuart Pearce used to always be on the backpages and he will be able to handle the pressure. The tabloids are ruining the English game.

[Stu M]

Quote:

TonyM said:
GOOD,now give the job to a man that knows how to get the best out of the English players,come on you old farts at the FA,give the job to Stuart Pearce and have done with it.

How many games before the tabloids put the boot into him? Nothing less than a World Cup victory in 2010 and the man - whoever it is - will be branded a turnip in no time.