Harry Redknapp will receive a formal approach to take over as England manager from the Football Association within the next few days.

But he will tell the FA that he must see out the season with Tottenham, having been overwhelmed by the support from fans at games and at Southwark Crown Court during his trial.

Redknapp knows, however, that it will be difficult to turn down a lifelong ambition to take the top job in the English game.

National service: Redknapp to lead England

Redknapp knows, however, that it will be difficult to turn down a lifelong ambition to take the top job in the English game.

He could be involved as early as the friendly international against Holland two weeks on Wednesday.

The FA have no intention of altering their decision to put Stuart Pearce in temporary charge for the visit of the Dutch team to Wembley.

But such is the importance of preparation for Euro 2012 that Redknapp, 65 next month, may have a peripheral role in England's first game this year.

The FA's Club England committee of FA chairman David Bernstein, general secretary Alex Horne, director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking and managing director Adrian Bevington met on Friday and drew up a short-list of candidates.

Bernstein is unfazed by the growing clamour for Redknapp to be installed.

'I'm not concerned about the hype,' said Bernstein. 'We live in the real world. We can all understand the hype. The guy's done amazingly recently, he's a fine manager and he's English. We have to live with it (the hype). It's a fact of life.

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