Soccer:Wayne Rooney has backed Harry Redknapp to be the next England manager following Fabio Capello's dramatic resignation, but has described the Italian as a "top coach".
Capello stepped down following a meeting with Football Association chiefs at Wembley Stadium days after he criticised their decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy.
Tottenham boss Redknapp was cleared of tax evasion charges earlier on Wednesday.
The Manchester United and England striker Rooney said on Twitter: "Gutted capello has quit. Good guy and top coach. Got to be english to replace him. Harry redknapp for me."
Jack Wilshereadmitted his shock at Capello's resignation. The Arsenal midfielder won his first cap under Capello against Hungary in August 2010.
He said on Twitter: "Shocked about news on Fabio Capello...gutted to be honest, gave me my 1st cap and believed in me! Thank you Mr Capello! £GreatManager."
Wilshere, who has not played this season because of injury, said Capello had had a "massive" impact on his career.
He tweeted: "People have there own judgement on Capello but for a young player who was given the chance to play for my country at such a young age...
"He has shown great belief and trust in me so I can only thank him....massive influence on my career so far! Sad to see him go!"
Former England defender Danny Millscriticised the FA for their handling of the situation and claimed the Euro 2012 campaign will be compromised as a result.
"It think the FA have handled this very badly," he told Radio Five Live. "He's obviously decided enough's enough and walked out. He's almost dropped England right in it. There's an awful lot of preparation that has gone in it (Euro 2012). It just causes disruption. There will be speculation that people don't need.
"Players will be asked about Capello, the new manager and about John Terry. He's justified in his decision. Do England need this leading into a major tournament?"
Mills was also sceptical about whether Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, the favourite to take over the reins, would be able to juggle the England job with his duties at Spurs.
"I presume Harry Redknapp is the favourite, but he's got a job to do with Spurs until the end of the season," he said. "The FA have handled this really badly. You have to find a man very quickly. Someone who wants the job.
"If it's going to be Harry Redknapp are Spurs going to allow it? The FA are almost going to be held to ransom. The Euros is going to be a trial for whoever takes charge."
Redknapp was immediately installed as favourite to take over from Capello and lead England into this summer's European Championships, but Scotland boss Craig Leveinwas another to cast doubt on whether the 64-year-old - who has been cleared of tax evasion charges - would be able to do both jobs in the short term.
Levein said on Radio 5 Live: "I think it's extremely difficult. I believe England have got a great opportunity in the summer going to the Euro finals. It might be very difficult for a manager to stay at his club and devote the time that's needed to do the England manager's job.
"I don't know what the FA will decide is best way forward."
Former FA chief executive David Davies claimed Redknapp would find the England job too tempting to turn down and Tottenham would be reluctant to stand in his way.
"Given the bizarre coincidence of the two events that came together today (Capello's resignation and Redknapp's acquittal) the odds have to be that Harry Redknapp will be the next manager of the England team," Davies said on Sky News. "I think there are one or two other strong candidates, but there is a momentum now behind Harry Redknapp that the FA will find hard to resist.
"My instinct is that someone like Harry Redknapp ultimately will not want to turn down the job of England manager and my instinct is that Tottenham Hotspur ultimately will not want to stand in his way."
Like Wilshere, Tottenham defender Kyle Walkertook to Twitter to express his disappointment at Capello's departure.
He posted: "Gutted to see Fabio Capello go he put a lot of trust in me and gave me my first cap just want to say a big thanks really.."
Former England captain Gary Linekerbacked Walker's club boss for the top job, claiming he could manage both England and Spurs in the short term.
He tweeted: "As you ask I think new man should be English. Players have to be, so should boss. HR the man if he wants it. He can do both jobs til May."
QPR midfielder Joey Bartonwas typically forthright in his assessment of where Wednesday night's developments, which followed John Terry being stripped of the captaincy, left the England team.
"Well, well, well, this debacle claims yet another victim. Where does this stop. £madness," he said on Twitter. "No captain and no manager. 4 months from a major championship. What's going on......."
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who earlier revealed he was not interested in taking over the captaincy from Terry, tweeted: "So Capello resigns....what now...."
Former England striker Alan Smith, now a pundit with Sky Sports, said: "We knew he wasn't happy with the John Terry situation and made his reasons perfectly clear, but I didn't expect him to resign.
"I don't know if the FA have forced his hand and said 'we can't go on this way, we can't see any future in it', but given he's put in a lot of work to get us qualified and there's a big championship coming up which England have a chance of doing well in, I am surprised."
Former Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keanetold ITV: "Clearly the interview to the Italian broadcaster over the weekend has compelled it to come to this. I didn't expect this to happen so quickly.
"Harry Redknapp will be the clear favourite to get the job and I'm sure he'll be the fans' favourite."
FA head of elite development Gareth Southgateadded on the television station: "After the weekend it was clear there was going to be some conflict.
"I suppose what will happen is things will come out in the next few weeks and months. When a manager is in place every player, when interviewed, will say 'he's the best I've played with' but when he goes all the knives will come out. I'm sure we'll see that on Twitter."
Asked if he believed there was sufficient time to get a replacement before the European Championships, Southgate added: "All possibilities remain open in that respect."
Bernstein received the full backing for his stance from Football League chairman Greg Clarke.
Clarke said: "What the FA has needed for a long time is strong, ethical leadership. David Bernstein is now delivering that leadership and he has my full support."
England legend Paul Gascoignegave his backing to Redknapp as Capello's successor, but claimed former England boss Terry Venables should be offered the job if the Football Association could not get the Spurs manager.
The former Tottenham midfielder told Sky Sports News: "He's (Redknapp) a day-to-day manager, he loves going into work every day. I've spoken to him a couple of times when I've seen him in Bournemouth - great man, great manager and whatever he's done he's done fantastic.
"I think the obvious choice for everyone is Harry, but I don't think Tottenham are going to release Harry. He is a players' man. Everyone would want to play for him and he's proven that at the clubs he's been to.
"He's like Terry Venables and I would given him a shot again, truthfully, Terry Venables. If Harry didn't want it and Spurs weren't willing to let him go I would give that man Terry Venables a shot again, without a shadow of a doubt.
"That man is just an unbelievable manager and Harry is a similar type of bloke. He's one of those managers I would have loved to have played for. And if he was given the job in my mind he would do a fantastic job."
Gascoigne, the star of the 1990 World Cup, jokingly ruled himself out of contention.
"I've had to turn the job down myself because I've got a busy schedule at the moment," he added.
