FORMER Cherries boss Harry Redknapp admitted he would be keen to manage England should Fabio Capello leave the post – and then received the backing of Dean Court chairman Eddie Mitchell.

Redknapp is among the leading contenders to be the next permanent England manager and Mitchell believes it would be fantastic for Cherries if he landed the job.

Capello yesterday stated his desire to stay on as boss following England’s World Cup exit, but the Football Association will make a final decision on his future over the next two weeks.

Should the Italian resign or be sacked by the FA, Dorset-based Redknapp would be a major contender to succeed him, with some bookmakers’ installing him as the favourite.

Speaking on Talksport yesterday, the Tottenham Hotspur boss said: “I’m English, who wouldn’t want to manage England?

“There’s not an Englishman – whether it’s me, Roy Hodgson or Sam Allardyce – who would turn the job down because it’s our country and we want to manage our country.

“No-one is ever going to turn that job down.”

And he has the full support of Cherries chief and fellow Sandbanks resident Mitchell. He told the Echo: “I would back him 100 per cent.

“I don’t think there’s anybody better in the country because he’s got the charisma as well. He’s well liked, he’s got the passion and he understands people as well.

“He achieved great heights in his time here and he’s gone on leaps and bounds. It would be great for Bournemouth if he became England manager.”