McClaren in the running for Capello's post

London: Steve McClaren will be in the frame when the Football Association begin their search for a successor to Fabio Capello as England manager.

McClaren was sacked after a disastrous spell as national coach ended three years ago with failure to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.

But the FA have made it clear they want to replace Capello with an Englishman when the Italian leaves in 2012.

Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's director of football development who will be a key figure in the selection process, said it would be "unfair" to dismiss McClaren as a candidate.

"I am sure if Steve continues to be a success, his name will be in the frame again," said Brooking.

Tottenham's Harry Redknapp, Liverpool's Roy Hodgson, Blackburn's Sam Allardyce and Sunderland's Steve Bruce would also be among the leading contenders.

Brooking does recognise, however, the success McClaren has enjoyed since leaving the FA, not least in the way he guided FC Twente to the Dutch League title last season before securing a big-money move to German club Wolfsburg in the summer. And he also accepts that McClaren might have been too inexperienced when he succeeded Sven Goran Eriksson in 2006, and could be more successful second time around.

"If you think he will be a lot more experienced this time around and he has learned his lesson then why not?" said Brooking.

"I wouldn't rule out anyone. I think it would be very unfair to do that. Steve has done fantastically well to get a title. Terry Venables went abroad and did well, but Sir Bobby Robson was the one manager who went to three countries and was a massive success."

Brooking agrees that both McClaren and Glenn Hoddle may have been promoted to the top job too soon.

It was Adrian Bevington, managing director of the newly-formed Club England, who stated a desire to replace Capello with an English manager and Brooking agreed. In principle anyway.

"We definitely want to go that way," he said.