David Gold: 'Slaven Bilic not interested in England job'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 29 June 2016

West Ham co-chairman David Gold believes that Slaven Bilic would not be at all interested in filling the vacant England manager's post.

West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has insisted that manager Slaven Bilic would have no interest in taking over as England boss.

Bilic is one of a plethora of names to have been linked with the post since Roy Hodgson stepped down following England's humiliating Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland on Monday.

The 47-year-old has international experience from his time in charge of Croatia and impressed during his debut season at West Ham last term, but Gold is confident that he will stay at the club ahead of their maiden campaign at the Olympic Stadium.

"He has managed his own country and I don't believe he would be the slightest bit interested in taking on England. He told us at his interview for this position that his mission was to manage at the highest level in England - the Premier League - with the club he loves West Ham United. England is simply not part of Slaven's mission," he told a West Ham blog site.

"He is a very, very loyal man. He is loyal to his backroom team and to the board. We have backed him 100% and he us - our commitment to each other is total. This is his club and he is on his way to great thing at the Olympic Stadium. I don't believe he will be tempted away by anything. I don't believe either the FA will come for him, as they have been down the foreign manager route and it hasn't worked.

"I don't believe they will go there at all. Slaven has clearly caught the imagination not only of West Ham fans, but those around the country with his TV appearances - but England? No, I am totally convinced that won't happen. The most important issue is whether he would want it and I don't believe he would. His passion and commitment to this club is total."

Gareth Southgate and Glenn Hoddle are currently the two favourites to succeed Hodgson.