Next England manager: FA refuse to be rushed with approach to Hull for Steve Bruce yet to be made

The Football Association feel they cannot be rushed into a decision on the next England manager, despite Sunderland’s frustrations over Sam Allardyce, and with no approach yet made to Hull City over Steve Bruce the process has at least a week to run.

The governing body acknowledge Sunderland’s concern about the damage the approach to Allardyce is having on their preparations for the new Premier League campaign. But the absence of contact with Hull over Bruce, who would appear to be worthy of interview at least, is puzzling and suggests that there is considerable work to do before all options are exhausted by England.

Though Allardyce is considered favourite, the idea that the governing body have chosen their man and are homing in on an appointment is premature. There are several other possible candidates, including the United States manager Jurgen Klinnsman, who will be interviewed. It is thought that the process is likely to accelerate next week, when there is expected to be greater focus on the preferred candidate.

Ideally, England want to make an appointment some weeks before the first England game of the new era – a friendly against as-yet unnamed opposition on September 1, which it is anticipated will be held at Wembley. The World Cup qualifier against Slovakia follows three days later. Though achieving that goal now seems highly likely, the notion of an interim manager guiding England through the first World Cup qualifiers has not been entirely dismissed

As of Thursday afternoon there had been no contact with Hull over Bruce, which is puzzling since he appears to be in the vanguard of experienced English managers who are interested in the position. At the very least, the FA can protect themselves against future accusations that they might have lacked thoroughness by speaking to Bruce now.

Hull’s decision to reveal an approach has not taken place underlines how destabilising the backdraft of England selection process is for Premier League sides. Sunderland are finding it difficult to sign players because of the uncertainty surrounding their manager, and if Allardyce is going to leave, they would prefer it to happen quickly.

The links between Bruce and the national job will have a similar effect, though he has never seemed as likely a replacement for Roy Hodgson.

Sunderland are desperate to avoid being stuck in managerial limbo at the start of a Premier League in which they want to avoid yet another relegation battle – and have started sounding out possible successors for Allardyce.

Approaches will be made indirectly to ascertain David Moyes’ interest, while Burnley manager Sean Dyche - who was on the Wearside club’s radar before Allardyce was hired – is another of interest to them. Allardyce has told Sunderland that he has been given no guarantees by England and was back at work on Thursday looking to kick-start a quiet transfer window for the club.