England managerial vacancy: Martin O'Neill's position as frontrunner to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson has been enhanced still further by "better news" about his ill wife.
O'Neill left Celtic last season to look after his wife Geraldine, who is being treated for cancer, but it now appears her health may have improved enough to allow him to consider the England head coach's job.
Although the English Football Association have reacted to intense speculation about the next England manager by insisting they have not made any approaches to any individual or club, O'Neill would appear to be out in front, particularly as the FA would regard him as a domestic rather than foreign candidate.
The latest news emerged from Celtic chairman Brian Quinn, who said: "I believe there has been somewhat better news in recent times (on his wife's health). I think he (O'Neill) is certainly a very strong candidate.
"He is a very clever fellow. Very intelligent. He could fight his way through most arguments and come out on the winning side."
Stuart Pearce, Sam Allardyce and Fabio Capello are among other names that have been suggested as likely candidates but the FA insist there is not even a shortlist yet for the job.
The next key date is February 27th when the FA board meet, but even that meeting may only rubber-stamp proposals from the 'three wise men' sub-group.
A statement on www.thefa.com said: "The Football Association would today like to make clear there have been no approaches made by the FA to any individuals or clubs regarding the recruitment of the next England head coach or any coaching staff.
"While we understand the huge level of interest in who will be appointed to manage the team after the World Cup it is important we clarify that no one has been authorised to lead any formal approaches."
Sven-Goran Eriksson, meanwhile, has signalled his determination to return to football management almost immediately after his contract as the England head coach is terminated at the end of the World Cup finals.
Eriksson is open to staying in England and has effectively put himself forward as a contender for the vacancy at Newcastle United by letting it be known he would prefer a club job to another international posting.
"I don't have any idea about what I will be doing after the World Cup," he said. "I am not holding any discussions with anyone at the moment but I'm sure that I will be working in football come August."
Eriksson said he was not "losing any sleep" over his job prospects, preferring instead to dwell on England's chances in the World Cup.
However, he is clearly embittered about the circumstances in which he was forced to bring forward talks with the Football Association about his future, namely the now-infamous News of the World sting involving the so-called "fake sheikh" on a trip to Dubai.
Eriksson has lodged legal proceedings against the newspaper after it reported several supposedly private conversations in which he discussed his players' weaknesses, his own clandestine negotiations to replace David O'Leary as Aston Villa's manager and the apparent bung culture in English football.
The Swede believes that he has been unfairly portrayed. "If I told the truth about what really happened during that trip then the whole picture would look very different to the one that emerged from the newspapers," he said.
"I don't want to say anything more about it now but the truth will come out one day. I am suing the newspaper and I am pretty confident that I will win that case."
