Sheepshanks gives Capello his backing

Fabio Capello's position as England head coach has been further strengthened after FA board member David Sheepshanks indicated he believes the Italian should stay on in the job.

The FA board are likely to meet next week with Sir Dave Richards, the Premier League chairman who also heads the new 'Club England', seeking opinions before making a recommendation.

Sheepshanks' intervention - saying "knee-jerk reactions never work" - is a reflection that the opinion is now changing to be pro-Capello staying.

Phil Gartside, a fellow board member and Bolton chairman, and Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's director of football development, are both backing Capello.

Sheepshanks, the former Ipswich chairman, told BBC Radio Suffolk: "Knee-jerk reactions never work.

"There are some very, very able and wise people around the FA board table and I have absolute confidence that they will come up with the right decision.

"Let's get this right. Fabio is tremendously able - one of the world's best managers - and a month ago I don't think you'd have heard many people disagree with that. He doesn't become a bad manager overnight."