Interim England manager Gareth Southgate could be installed as Sam Allardyce's permanent successor in the next fortnight.

It is understood that Southgate would have seriously considered walking away from the FA to re-ignite his club career if he had failed to land the Three Lions job on a permanent basis.

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His fears however have been put to rest, with the FA putting together a five-man panel to oversee the appointment. The panel members are Chief Executive Martin Gleen, Chairman Greg Clarke, Head of Elite Development Dan Ashworth, Former Leeds Manager Howard Wilkinson, and ex England international Graham Le Saux.

Southgate's contract as manager of the England under-21's will expire after the European championships next summer. He had been already thinking about potential club management jobs and had hinted about a potential exit on Tuesday.

"I am determined to manage at the highest level possible, club, country, home or abroad. Whatever it may be," Southgate said.

But he is now assured of remaining at the helm until at least after the next World Cup where his position will be reviewed. This view has been further cemented by FA Chief Executive Martin Glenn's comments, saying that they had always considered Southgate as a strong contender for the job.

"We know him and we have seen him at close quarters for a couple of years," Glenn said, adding that Southgate's experience in international football is an added bonus.

Glenn believes that out of the four Three Lions games that Southgate has overseen, the one against Scotland was the most critical.

"Scotland was one of those games where the form book goes out of the window," he said.

TagsThree lions, England, England Football Manager