Gareth Southgate and FA in discussions over break clause - Sky sources
Wednesday 23 November 2016 17:56, UK
The Football Association's desire to insert a break clause in Gareth Southgate's England contract is the biggest hurdle to overcome in the on-going negotiations between the two parties, according to Sky sources.
Southgate was interviewed for three hours at St George's Park on Monday by the FA's five-man selection panel, which included chairman Greg Clarke, chief cxecutive Martin Glenn and technical director Dan Ashworth.
With no other candidates expected to be interviewed, the belief is that Southgate will become England's next permanent manager. However negotiations over the finer details of Southgate's contract are ongoing with some issues yet to be resolved - and the insertion of a break clause is said to be the biggest point of contention at this stage.
Sky Sports News HQ revealed last Friday that Southgate wants a contract lasting until the end of the European Championships in 2020, to enable continuity, which he believes, is in the best interests of the team as well as himself.
It is understood that in principle the FA agree with the length of contract, but are keen to insert a break clause which would enable either party to terminate the agreement after the World Cup in 2018, which Southgate's representatives have so far refused to accept. A break clause would essentially mean Southgate is on an 18-month contract until the summer of 2018, with the option of a further two years based on England's performance at the World Cup, something Sky sources claim Southgate is not currently prepared to accept.
As per SSNHQ's story last week, Southgate also wants financial parity with his predecessors and to command a similar comparable with what external candidates can earn in the Premier League. Sources have told us negotiations over Southgate's salary and performance-related bonuses are progressing well; yet also remain unresolved at present.
It was widely reported that Southgate's predecessors, Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson, were on contracts worth £2.5m per year, and his representatives do not feel he should earn significantly less than that, regardless of having less experience as a manager. They point to his successful spell in interim charge of the team which saw them register two wins and two draws in difficult circumstances.
Sky Sports News HQ has been told both parties remain confident of concluding a deal in time for an announcement next week, ahead of the Football Association's next board meeting on 30 November.
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