Keegan steps to forefront
Fulham coach continues talks with FA about England job
Posted: Tuesday February 16, 1999 04:08 PM
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Kevin Keegan: "I'm not going to walk out on Fulham, Mr. Fayed, the supporters or the players." Mike Hewitt/Allsport |
LONDON (AP) -- Kevin Keegan remains the top choice to coach
England. But working out a deal -- with Keegan wanting to coach
part-time -- may not be easy.
English Football Association officials talked with Keegan again
on Tuesday, following two hours of talks Monday. The FA said there
would be more meetings Wednesday with Keegan's desire to complete
the remaining 18 months of his contract at Fulham the apparent
sticking point.
"Conversations are continuing in connection with our options,"
FA spokesman Steve Double said Tuesday. "Progress is being made
and discussions will continue."
He said that while Keegan had talked with the FA by telephone
from his home in northeast England, the FA's committee charged with
finding a new coach had also met in London.
Keegan's is the only name being mentioned to replace Glenn
Hoddle, with former national coaches Terry Venables and Bobby
Robson having faded into the background.
"We have to get this matter right," said the FA's acting
chairman Geoff Thompson. "That's what is important. Our plans are
fluid but we're certainly moving speedily and later this week we
will have something positive to say."
Thompson said the FA would accept Keegan as a part-time coach
until summer, but not after that.
"We are happy for him to work with both the FA and Fulham but
we would want his position with his clb resolved in the summer as
we don't want a part-time manager in the long-term," Thompson
said.
"We want Kevin Keegan for a long time, not just for one or
three games. We would like him initially to take the England team
for the Poland game [March 27], then we would like him to oversee
our two [matches] in the summer and then resolve his long-term future."
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