Curbishley: Club commitment

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Alan Curbishley believes Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick is in a 'difficult situation' in the hunt for a new England manager.

The West Ham manager was interviewed for the position in 2005 to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson along with Martin O'Neill and Luis Felipe Scolari.

The FA were heavily criticised for their recruitment policy last time around, which resulted in Steve McClaren being promoted from assistant coach.

Curbishley feels the FA face a near impossible task with the huge public interest surrounding the potential successor to McClaren.

He said: "Brian Barwick has got a difficult situation. Whatever he does he will be scrutinised - (with critics saying) 'he has taken too long' or 'he hasn't taken long enough.'

Difficult position

"How on earth will he conduct his business in private? I don't think he has got a chance.

"Last time there were people he wanted to talk to who were already working and their clubs were involved in cups or big league games. It was very difficult and he is in a similar position."

Jose Mourinho is among names being connected with the job, while the likes of O'Neill, Jurgen Klinsmann and Fabio Capello have also been mentioned.

Reports have suggested that Curbishley is the preferred choice of Trevor Brooking, one of the FA chiefs responsible for recruiting McClaren's successor.

Curbishley, though, is quick to refute the speculation and insists he is committed to West Ham's Premier League campaign.

Speculation

"I don't know why this has come out. I don't know how much substance is in it, if any," he added.

"It is the topic everyone wants to talk about at the moment. Every day there is speculation.

"I am happy and committed to West Ham. We have a massive week coming up and as far as I am concerned nothing will get in the way of that.

"We've got a massive week coming up, where at the end of it, we can find ourselves in the top half of the Premier League and in a semi-final.

"As far as I'm concerned nothing's going to get in the way of that."