CHRIS Wilder believes that Harry Redknapp must be the new England manager.

The Oxford United boss is urging the Football Association to give the job to an Englishman, and says that Redknapp fits the criteria.

And, tongue-in-cheek, Wilder added his name to the list of people who have ruled themselves out of the running!

“I am not going to go against what 99 per cent of people think – yes, it should definitely be Harry,” he said.

“Without being nationalistic, we have had two foreign managers now and I don’t think England have moved on in the time they were in charge.

“People have this perception of foreign managers being flavour of the month, but Italy, Germany and Spain would not go for a manager from outside their country and I don’t think we should have done.

“The English game is based on the qualities needed by an English manager.

“I think fans want to see people with passion, aggression and the best way to get that out of a team with the quality players we have got is to have somebody who knows how players are motivated.

“I don’t think there is anyone better than Harry Redknapp.”

When jokingly asked whether he felt he could be in the running, Wilder replied: “I’ve ruled myself out.”

Other football managers in the county agree.

Mike Ford, boss of Oxford City where Redknapp used to be an assistant manager to Bobby Moore in the 1980s, said: “Harry is the right age and there is a feel-good factor about him since his court case.

“I think Redknapp is an outstanding candidate.”

Banbury United boss Ady Fuller added: “I think they should let Redknapp give it a go and get him to work with David Beckham and Stuart Pearce and get their input.”

Didcot Town manager Dave Mudge said: “I think it will be Redknapp.”

North Leigh manager Mark Gee, however, disagrees.

“The most successful manager in this country over the past 20 years is Sir Alex Ferguson,” he said.

“But I don’t think he’d want to manage the auld enemy. If it’s not him, then maybe Arsene Wenger.”