Interviews over for England job

The Football Association has finished interviewing contenders for the England job, but an announcement will not be made before next week as the FA's nominations panel has yet to decide on itschoice to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson.

Once the panel has done so, it needs to have the decision ratified by the FA board, agree terms with the new manager and, if necessary, sort out compensation with a club. Such a process is likely to take several days.

Martin O'Neill and Steve McClaren continue as favourites but it is understood that Alan Curbishley and Sam Allardyce also impressed at interview.

A senior FA source said: "All the shortlist have now been interviewed and it is now a case for the nominations panel to determine the candidate they want - and they have not done so yet.

"All interviewed very, very well... it means the panel have a lot to consider."

The nominations panel is made up of Barwick, the FA chairman Geoff Thompson, the international committee chairman Noel White, the Premier League chairman Dave Richards, the Arsenal vice-chairman and FA board member David Dein, and the FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking.