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New man?

Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has drawn up a succession plan for England manager Gareth Southgate but insists no talks have taken place with any potential replacement.

Speculation over Southgate’s future has been rife heading into Euro 2024, with the 53-year-old admitting it could be his farewell tournament should England not be successful in Germany.

Bullingham also revealed the FA has not fielded any approaches for Southgate’s services after he had been linked with the managerial post at Manchester United – who have now decided Erik ten Hag will remain in place.

Instead, it is Southgate’s future as England boss that will continue to be debated throughout the ups and downs of the finals.

Bullingham admitted there is a plan in place should Southgate leave after a post-tournament review – but that no successor has been spoken to at this stage.

“Any organisation really has a succession plan in place for their top employees,” he said at England’s training base in Blankenhain.

“We are no different to that. This succession plan normally includes everything from what you do for short-term cover, through to a process you follow to candidates. We have that for top employees.

“I want to respect Gareth and the team that they are very focused on the tournament and we want to be supporting them with that focus. Clearly, you plan lots of different scenarios for all your top employees all the time.

“Gareth has been really, really clear that he wants to talk about it after the tournament. I don’t want to provide any distraction for him and the team. I want to respect the fact that they want to talk about the future after the tournament.

“I’ve had no approach about him. There have been no approaches. We are sitting down after the tournament together and will talk about everything.

“I don’t think it is distracting for him (Gareth). I think he is used to it, he is in a great position and really positive.”