Caretaker manager Southgate banks on U21 experience to take England forward after Allardyce's exit

Southgate said it was important for him to step forward after Allardyce's exit.

Gareth Southgate
Southgate feels confident about England's good showing in their 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers Reuters

Gareth Southgate said he is confident about getting good results with the England senior team during his tenure as caretaker manager.

Following Sam Allardyce's exit, Southgate will be in-charge of the team for its next four games which include three 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier fixtures. England resume their campaign at Wembley against Malta on 8 October and head to Slovenia on 11 October before playing Scotland in November.

Allardyce stepped down as England manager by mutual agreement with the Football Association after he was reportedly caught in a newspaper sting giving advice on how to bend FA's rules on third-party ownership.

The 61-year-old had also used his job to negotiate £400,000 deal for himself, as reported by the Telegraph. He had lead England to 1-0 victory against Slovakia in the World Cup qualifier in his only game as the senior team's manager earlier this month.

Notably, Southgate had rejected an offer to take up the role with the senior team in June after Roy Hodgson's resignation following the Three Lions' poor show in the 2016 European Championship.

However, the former England international, who had managed the U21 side since 2013, said he changed his stance as it was important for him to step forward in difficult times.

"It's obviously been a difficult situation for the FA but it was important that there was some stability and continuity for everybody," Southgate was quoted by the FA's official website.

"With my experience with the U21s in international football, and having worked with so many of the players who have moved up to the seniors as well, I think we are in a good position to prepare for these games.

"I was very proud to have played more than 50 times for my country and to have worn the armband, so to manage England will be a huge responsibility and a huge honour for me.

"It's a difficult circumstance for me, because we've lost two senior coaches in the last few months who have both been very good to me, so that complicates my feelings."

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