RYDER CUP: Darren Clarke refused to criticise Nick Faldo's brand of leadership after Europe surrendered the Ryder Cup at Valhalla, but does not believe he will get a second chance in the job.

Faldo decided to do without Clarke, the hero of the 2006 victory at the K-Club, by selecting Ian Poulter and Paul Casey as his wild cards but the Dungannon man holds no grudges.

Instead, he believes the long queue of elder statesmen waiting for the job means retaining the captaincy, as the likes of Bernard Gallacher and Tony Jacklin did, is a thing of the past.

Reflecting on the 16.5-11.5 American victory in Kentucky, Clarke said: "Nick tried to do what he thought was best for the team. He was very methodical and he went through everything.

"This time America just played better than we did, as simple as that.

"In the past few (Ryder Cups) Europe have putted better, but this time American holed the big ones when they had to. All the momentum was with them this time."

But despite defending Faldo's input, as have many of the team, he added: "I think the days of doing a repeat captaincy are long gone now.

"We have so many great players in line wanting to do the captaincy. They will all be given the chance to do that.

"He was a fantastic player and a fantastic ambassador for European golf but we have enough guys. Monty (Colin Montgomerie) is coming up, Jose Maria (Olazabal) is coming up, so is Miguel Angel Jimenez.

"There are quite a few people in line for the captaincy. In years gone by we haven't had that."

Of the contenders, Clarke believes Olazabal, Faldo's vice captain this time, is in pole position.

"Monty, I think, would prefer to wait for Gleneagles (in 2014) if he had the choice and he'd be a great captain in Scotland.

"Jose Maria would be at the forefront of everyone's thoughts for Celtic Manor. He's such a good player he could still make be in contention to be a player then but he's been ill and injured and he might struggle to make it.

"A lot of guys would like to see Jose Maria as the next captain."