English coach to join Capello's backroom staff

The coach will be chosen by the FA's director of development Sir Trevor Brooking and is part of a strategy to develop the skills of leading English coaches, the Yorkshire Post understands.

The coach will work alongside Capello's No 2 Stuart Pearce as well as the England boss and will provide support for the Italian while Pearce is on duty with the Under-21 set-up.

The plan is seen as a chance to begin grooming an English coach as a possible successor to Capello.

None of Capello's Italian assistants will be leaving the set-up but Pearce's commitments with the Under-21s have given the FA an opportunity to provide a learning platform for another England coach.

The decision comes after the FA announced their intention to appoint an independent chairman following the resignation of Lord Triesman in May.

The appointment of an independent chairman was among the key

recommendations of the Burns Report.

Brooking is taking on a pivotal role in the England set-up following the calamitous World Cup campaign in South Africa.

He is also charged with the task, along with Capello, of improving the skills and development of English coaches.

Brooking will provide recommendations in relation to international player development and coach education set-up.

Capello, backed by the FA despite England's poor showing in South Africa, is now expected to focus on youth – especially for the friendly against Hungary on August 11. He is almost certain to remove some of the old guard and replace them with Under-21s or even some players from the Under-19 squad who are preparing for their the European Champions campaign in France.

The Premier League will contribute 6m to the Football Conference over the next three years, it was announced yesterday.

After making a 1m payment last year, the Premier League are to continue the arrangement, with 1.2m in payments per season to support all 68 Conference clubs plus 800,000 in a separate club development fund.

Football Conference chairman Brian Lee added: "This a further wonderful gesture of friendship from the Premier League."