Soccer: Venables a wanted man

New England football manager Steve McClaren is courting Terry Venables to become his No 2.

Some senior figures inside the Football Association are opposed to the former England manager's return to the national team but chief executive Brian Barwick is determined to push the appointment through.

Venables is understood to be keen to get involved with the national team again but is wary about going back to work for the FA after the bitter way his reign as England manager ended after Euro 96. At the time the FA refused to offer him a new contract amid fears that he would be distracted by a series of legal battles over his business affairs.