HE WRIGGLED a little bit. He squirmed. He even tried ignoring the subject. But in the end, Harry Redknapp had to admit managing England would be his ultimate job.

After Thursday’s explanations, the Club England board went into lock-down yesterday as they began the process of finding Fabio Capello’s successor.

The Football Association refused to offer any detail on a Wembley meeting between the four men – FA chairman David Bernstein, chief executive Alex Horne, director of football development Trevor Brooking and Club England managing director Adrian Bevington – who must decide the next England manager.

But it still comes back to one man, the man endorsed by Alex Ferguson 45 minutes before he swept into the small meeting room at Spurs Lodge, Tottenham’s training base in Chigwell at 10.20am to face so many members of the media some had to be turned away.

“It has to be,” said Redknapp, when asked if managing England was the ultimate.

“But you also have to understand what a tough job it is. No one has a magic wand and the list of top-class managers who have all gone in full of hope, people like Kevin Keegan, who did a fantastic job at Newcastle, and they all found it very, very difficult. It’s certainly not an easy job. Whoever takes that job has a real job on their hands.”

In the eyes of the press and the public, there is only one choice. The “right choice” as Ferguson put it.

“There’s no doubt Harry’s the best man,” said Ferguson.

“He has good experience, the personality and knowledge of the game. He’s changed the fortunes of every club he’s been at. It’s the right choice.”

If even Ferguson is speaking as if the decision were a fait-accompli, it does not offer Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy much hope of tempting Redknapp to stay.

Levy could plausibly point to the brilliant job Redknapp has done at White Hart Lane and how it would be a shame not to finish what has been started with such staggering success.

However, amid the genuine appreciation for the manner Tottenham have stood by him during the dark times brought by the tax evasion trial came an equally straightforward assessment of football’s transient nature.

“Players are fine,” said Redknapp in response to the difficulty of leaving behind a squad of players so carefully assembled.

“You know what football’s like. Somebody comes. Somebody goes.”

Looking worn out by his personal tribulations and a heavy cold that consigned him to bed on Wednesday afternoon, Redknapp was not his usually jaunty self.

It can only be a matter of when, rather than if, he has some pretty big things to consider, which would be done in conjunction with wife Sandra and son Jamie.

“No, it wouldn’t be easy [leaving here],” he said. “It would be very difficult. I’m happy at work. But if the opportunity comes, and I get asked, I’ll have to consider it. I’ll have to make a decision, but I have to do what’s right for me and my family.”

However, the one thing Redknapp has already worked outis carrying out the role on a part-time basis is tricky.

“It would be very difficult for anybody to try and do two jobs,” he said. “Managing England is hard enough.”

If England triumph at Euro 2012, Redknapp will get all the credit. Should they fail, the blame will be heaped on the man who has departed in such stunning circumstances.

“I wasn’t escaping,” Capello insisted on Italian television. “I left because there was a misunderstanding. It had been going well but there are times in which you decide to leave.”

Players’ chief Gordon Taylor last night said he did not believe there was still an issue between Paul Ince and Stuart Pearce over a racism incident 18 years ago.

In 1994 Pearce apologised to Ince after making a racist remark to him during a match and the issue has re-surfaced after Pearce was confirmed as the interim England manager.

Taylor was involved in resolving the issue originally and has taken steps to ensure there is no lingering ill-feeling now.

Taylor said: “Stuart Pearce apologised at the time, the situation was resolved and I don’t believe there is any issue now.

“They have been team-mates since for England.

“They have encountered each other numerous times as players and coaches, and Stuart has managed Paul Ince’s son for England under-18s.”