Barwick keeps lines open to Eriksson

The Football Association chief executive, Brian Barwick, has revealed there have already been discussions with Sven Goran Eriksson about his plans for England after the World Cup in Germany.

"He is contracted until 2008 and we discuss post-2006 all the time," Barwick said. "But we are grown-ups. Sometimes life deals you a set of cards that weren't from the original deck. We will deal with it if and when we have to."

There have been calls for the next England manager to be home-grown, with the likes of Steve McClaren, Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley mentioned as potential candidates to eventually take over from Eriksson. But Barwick said: "The England national coach should be the best man for the job, and if he happens to be English so much the better."

A former controller of ITV Sport, Barwick took over his current role a year ago this week, with one of his tasks to help oversee the completion of Wembley Stadium's redevelopment. It is hoped the multi-million project will be ready in time to host the 2006 FA Cup final, and Barwick revealed there were plans to bid to stage the Champions' League final at the venue in three years' time having failed to land the match in 2007.

"I am going to make sure we're given a good chance to host a Champions' League final in either 2008 or 2009," said the FA chief executive. "It's the kind of event a new Wembley is designed to host. It will be a remarkable stadium with 90,000 spectators."