EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey
Ray Lewington is poised to quit Fulham and become the third permanent member of England’s coaching team on a four-year contract, Goal.com can reveal.
The Football Association announced on May 4 that Lewington had been appointed Roy Hodgson’s No.2 for Euro 2012 on a short-term contract.
Sources have told Goal.com that new England manager Hodgson has told the FA he now wants Lewington to join him on a full-time basis and a deal running until 2016 is expected to be offered in the near future.
The governing body revealed on Monday that Gary Neville had signed a four-year contract to be part of Hodgson’s coaching team, although the former Manchester United player will continue his punditry duties with Sky Sports.
The FA have treaded more carefully in the case of Lewington because of the sensibilities involved in him still being employed by a Premier League club.
The respected Fulham head of coaching, who was Hodgson’s No.2 during his three-year spell as manager at Craven Cottage, initially agreed to work with England for this summer, with a view to extending it to England’s World Cup campaign if successful. It was agreed that the FA would pay his Fulham salary and a compensation sum for his services.
Goal.com has learned that further talks have taken place in recent days about Lewington permanently leaving Fulham, who he re-joined in 2005 after spells as manager at Watford and Brentford.
Hodgson wants his right-hand man to have the same length contract as himself and Neville, and sources expect the FA to come to an arrangement with Fulham shortly for Lewington to come on board.
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