Big names ruled out for England job

Taylor says he is not a candidate for the England post

Four leading contenders have dropped out of the running to take over from Kevin Keegan as England football coach.

Leicester boss Peter Taylor, former French coach Aime Jacquet, Sunderland manager Peter Reid and Middlesbrough's Bryan Robson were all ruled out of applying for the post.

Howard Wilkinson has taken over as acting coach following Keegan's shock decision to quit after the 1-0 defeat by Germany in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

And he suffered a double injury blow on Monday with news that skipper Tony Adams and defender Graeme Le Saux would miss Wednesday's vital match in Finland.

  The bookies favourites

Odds to be new England manager (William Hill)

2-1 Terry Venables

6-1 Aime Jacquet

8-1 Arsene Wenger, Howard Wilkinson

11-1 John Gregory, Bryan Robson, Peter Reid

16-1 Alan Curbishley, Marcello Lippi, Bobby Robson, Sir Alex Ferguson

20-1 Peter Taylor David O'Leary, Martin O'Neill

One man, at least, is prepared to take the helm. Ex-England manager Bobby Robson, currently in charge at Newcastle, said he would step in if needed.

But Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd insisted Robson would not be allowed to take up any such offer.

And Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood indicated he would let the FA talk to Gunners manager Arsene Wenger, although he believes the Frenchman would be "crazy" to take the job.

After Monday's developments, Terry Venables - who took England to the brink of the Euro 96 final - is a stronger favourite with bookmakers to replace Keegan. William Hill make him 2-1 from 4-1.

Peter Taylor, the former England under-21 manager who has taken Leicester to the top of the Premiership since moving to Filbert Street in the summer, had been second favourite.

Walkout: Keegan after Saturday's defeat

But Taylor confirmed on Monday he did not intend to apply for the England job, and was pushed out from 6-1 to 20-1 by Hill's.

"To be mentioned is an honour and very, very nice," he said.

"But it is not for me at the moment. One day of course I would love to manage England, I've made no secret of the fact.

"But I would have to have earned it - I have only been at Leicester four months and this is too early for me." said Taylor.

Former French coach Aime Jacquet has also ruled himself out.

There is not much I wouldn't do to help my country

  Former England boss Bobby Robson

Jacquet guided Les Bleus to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998 and is now the national technical director for the French Federation.

He said: "I have no intention to return to the playing field in high-level soccer in England, or elsewhere."

Sunderland moved swiftly in a bid to ensure manager Peter Reid is not linked with the England coaching post.

Chairman Bob Murray said: "Peter is dedicated to Sunderland and respects and values the autonomy of his position at the club."

Ruled out: Jacquet says he will not be applying

And Bryan Robson became the latest man to rule himself out of the race, when he insisted he needed to prove himself in the Premiership before considering taking charge of his country.

"My name is not in the hat," the former England captain said. "I've said before, if I get offered or would like the job of England manager I want to have good experience behind me as a league manager and, hopefully, success as a league manager.

"If I ever did take on the England job I would want to be a success with it and to do that you have to learn the trade at league level."

However, Bobby Robson hinted he would be prepared to listen to the FA if they contacted him.

He said: "I am settled at a magnificent club - my club - on a 12-month rolling contract, but there is not much I wouldn't do to help my country."

FA chief executive Adam Crozier insists plans to find Keegan's successor will be put on the back-burner until after Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Finland.

A poor result in Helsinki will leave England with a near-impossible task to claim the automatic qualifying spot in their group for the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and Korea.

Staying put: Sunderland manager Peter Reid

Crozier said he would prefer an appointment in time to give the new coach two friendlies - in Italy next month and against Spain at Villa Park in February - to bed them in before the World Cup campaign resumes in March.

England's position worsened with the injuries to Adams and Le Saux.

Adams was unable to make the flight to Helsinki after injuring his back in a training session at Bisham Abbey on Monday. Le Saux is out with a calf injury.