Hodgson to get England job after final talks today

Roy Hodgson is driven away from Wembley with England’s Euro 2012 itinerary on the seat next to him after his talks with the FA yesterday (Reuters)

The Football Association is confident that it will appoint Roy Hodgson as the new England manager today, subject to him finalising the details of his contract this morning, after four hours of successful talks with the FA chairman, David Bernstein, right, yesterday.

The 64-year-old will return to Wembley this morning to tie up the final details of his contract, although there was no indication last night how long the deal will be for. The West Bromwich Albion manager's agent, Leon Angel, was spotted going through the Wembley Stadium reception yesterday and it is understood that he will accompany Hodgson today to sign off the deal.

The plan tomorrow is for a press conference with Hodgson and Bernstein at Wembley at around 2pm. As of last night the FA's in-house television channel was geared up to broadcast an interview with Hodgson and the FA director of football development, Sir Trevor Brooking, on the governing body's website at the same time.

The conversation between the two men yesterday was described as positive and concentrated primarily upon football rather than the details of length of contract or of Hodgson's salary.

Hodgson is expected to see out the last two games of the season at his club before naming the Euro 2012 squad, possibly the day after the final day of the season on 13 May. His back-room staff is anticipated to include Ray Lewington, who he worked with at Fulham.

Another loyal ally of Hodgson, Mike Kelly, could yet come out of retirement to join the England back-room staff. Kelly followed Hodgson to Liverpool from Fulham as first-team coach but dropped out of the game after Hodgson was sacked last year. Kelly, who briefly managed Plymouth Argyle in the late 1970s, is 69. He worked as England goalkeeping coach at the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals and was Hodgson's assistant when he was manager of Switzerland.

Hodgson will have to make quick decisions on whether he wants to continue with Fabio Capello's plan to stay at the Marbella Paradise of Sport on 21 May for a few days before flying to England's base in Krakow around 6 June. Hodgson is expected to keep the Under-21s coach, Stuart Pearce, as part of his back-room staff.