The current manager HAS been retained, according to this mormiong/s sports news. He's under contract ~ a big fat one ~ and apparently no one wants to pay him off AND at the same pay a competitive salary to another manager.

The ESPN commentators, including a few guys with British accents, a Dutchman, and several Americans (inlcuding an ex-player with WC experience) all seemed to agree that coaching was not the problem so mach as lack of talent. With the English Premiere League employing more and more "foreigners" (i.e., drawing upon the worldwide talent pool), fewer native Englishmen are playing the game at its highest level.

Fielding a UK team rather than separate outfits for each nation is undoubtedly a good idea.

If there were to be a "Great Britain" (rather than a "UK") entry in the World Cup, perhaps the "Ireland" team could include the entire island, including the North. I know that this arrangement has been used for some sports but not others. But ~ I can't remember which!