FA Chairman David Bernstein, who began the search for a new manager on Friday following Wednesday’s resignation by Capello, would consider a temporary coach leading England into the finals in Poland and Ukraine but Redknapp was quick to distance himself from the idea.

“I think it would be difficult. It’s hard enough managing a league club let alone managing your country. You have got to focus on one job,” he told a news conference at Spurs’ training ground. “I can’t take my eye off the ball at Tottenham at the moment because we are looking to get Champions League football, we are still in the FA Cup.

“It wouldn’t be fair to anybody at this club if I suddenly started letting my thoughts wander elsewhere.”

While Redknapp is the popular choice for the job, it is no foregone conclusion he will succeed Capello. Given his comments about a jobshare, Redknapp may have to leave Spurs at the end of the season to take the full-time reins of England for the Euros if he is offered the job and accepts it.

However, at this stage he does not want to think about the idea of quitting Tottenham, even in May. “Things couldn’t have gone better for me at Tottenham,” the former West Ham United, Portsmouth and Southampton boss said. “I enjoy my time here, the chairman (Daniel Levy) has been great to me and I’ve been good for him as well so it’s difficult. But until the question gets asked would you want the job — and nobody has approached Daniel, and that’s the key he’s the chairman, until he rings me up and says ‘Look I’ve had an approach’ then really there’s nothing for me to consider.

“At my age now I have to do what’s right for me, that’s the key. My family always has got to come first. If the opportunity comes I’ll look at it then.”

Stuart Pearce, the manager of the England Under-21 and British Olympic team for the London 2012 Games, will be in charge of the squad for England’s friendly against Netherlands on Feb.29 and the FA has not ruled out the possibility of Pearce leading the squad at the European championship either.

Asked about Capello’s four-year reign as England manager, Redknapp again talked of how difficult the role can be. “You’ve only got to look at his record. He’s one of the world’s great managers,” said the Londoner, who had heart surgery in November.

“There wouldn’t be too many in the world better than him and he found it difficult and there have been a lot of great managers since Alf Ramsey, unbelievable managers including the great Bobby Robson.

“He found it difficult. He went through some terrible periods. He got slaughtered at times. He wasn’t always well-treated . It is a tough job and no-one has got a magic wand.”

I can relegate England: Fergie
Manchester: If England want a new manager with a glittering record they need look no further than Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who would love to take the job just so he could sabotage the team. “The FA have approached (United chief executive) David Gill today to speak to me. So I said I would make the decision on April 1,” he joked at a news conference. “It’s a good idea. I could relegate them.”