FA member wants Fabio to stay: "He has only lost one game"

Fabio Capello has discovered he still has friends at the FA as the soap opera over his England future took a new twist.

The Italian revealed after the Three Lions' disastrous World Cup exit that football chiefs at Wembley wanted two weeks to decide whether he should stay or go.

Capello stressed he wished to stay on but did not know whether he would be given the chance.

However, Phil Gartside, a top FA board member and pal of Dave Richards - the Club England chairman who has the biggest say on Capello's future - has broken ranks to pledge his support for the manager.

Gartside, who is also the chairman of Bolton, has stayed on in South Africa for a family holiday while England's World Cup failures and Richards have returned to London.

But the Reebok gaffer is keeping on top of developments and sees no reason why Capello should be removed.

He emphasised his views were personal and he was not speaking for the FA as a whole - but Capello jetted off on his holidays in the knowledge he has some significant support.

Gartside told SunSport: "I'm saying Capello is the right man for the job. He has only lost one game. That is my opinion.

"I don't know that there's a decision to be made, is there? He's got a contract and that's it.

"It's my opinion he should carry on.

"Yes, I get on very well with Dave Richards but I'm not speaking on anyone else's behalf. Personally, I don't think his future is up in the air.

"I'm in South Africa and Dave's back in England. I don't know the outcome."

Sources close to Capello are adamant that he wants to see the England job through to Euro 2012 and he is not just holding out for a pay-off.

He is said to be "more angry, more determined and more focused" to build a successful England team and believes it can be done.

Capello wants "revenge" for the fiasco in South Africa and to prove he is the right man to lead England.

However, while Gartside's support is important and has improved Capello's chances of staying, it does not mean he is assured of keeping his job.

There is still a lot of talking going on within the corridors of power at the FA, although a decision may be made quicker than the fortnight Capello talked about.

They also need to have another candidate in mind if the Italian is shown the door.

Roy Hodgson was high on the FA's wish list but the Fulham boss is set to join Liverpool tomorrow. But it is understood Blackburn boss and former Bolton chief Sam Allardyce would answer his country's call if he was offered the job.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is the bookies' favourite but the FA are concerned about a court case hanging over him for alleged tax evasion.

Big Sam was interviewed by the FA along with Martin O'Neill and Steve McClaren when the FA were searching for Sven Goran Eriksson's replacement in 2006.

McClaren won the race and then failed to get the team to the Euro 2008 finals and was sacked as the Wally with the Brolly.