Although FA chief executive Brian Barwick has been given more freedom to find McClaren's successor than he had when Sven-Goran Eriksson announced his impeding departure less than two years ago, there is still a preference for a 'home-grown' candidate should a suitable applicant be found.

Given Alan Shearer has no management experience whatsoever, Harry Redknapp admits he is unlikely to be asked, Alan Curbishley, Sam Allardyce and Mark Hughes have ruled themselves out and current England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce was hardly a success at Manchester City, O'Neill is the most plausible option.

Interviewed for Eriksson's job, only to lose out when he told Barwick he had no interest in a wider role beyond putting a successful England senior team onto the pitch, O'Neill has again emerged as an early favourite.

However, while the Aston Villa manager jokingly declared he would be 'brilliant' at the job, he left Barwick in no doubt he does not want it.

"I was on the short-list last time, I was interviewed for the job and I didn't get it," he said.

"I was flattered to be interviewed but at the time I did not have a commitment.

"I suppose my name would occur again but no-one has contacted me and I wouldn't expect anyone to do so this early in proceedings. But, let me tell you, I have a commitment here to Aston Villa."

Given O'Neill's track record of loyalty with Leicester and Celtic, it seems unlikely Barwick would be able to change his mind even if he wanted to.

It is certainly not the news Barwick would want to hear when he lands in Durban for Sunday's 2010 World Cup qualifying draw and will ensure the focus falls even further on Jose Mourinho.

Along with Arsene Wenger, who has swiftly added an expected 'Non' to the job, Mourinho would be top of any England fan's wish-list.

Bolstered by a massive new television deal, the FA could presumably meet whatever massive wage demands Mourinho would require.

Yet the feeling has persisted Mourinho is waiting for another top club job to become available and has already previously suggested the only national coaching role he would be interested in at a later stage of his career is that of his native Portugal.

However, intriguingly, former Real Madrid and Juventus coach Fabio Capello, one of the few men to openly declare an interest, said he thought Mourinho would accept.

And the manner in which the former Chelsea manager's advisor Eladio Parames side-stepped the issue suggested it is not entirely beyond reason Mourinho could take it.

"It is fantastic to know the fans want him but he has not had any contact with the FA," Parames told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"But I don't say 'Jose, do you want the job?', because no-one asks Jose if he wants the job. If someone asks him of course they will have an answer."

It is inconceivable Mourinho will not be asked the question, if only because he is currently available, a situation which could change at any point.

The other two obvious overseas candidates, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink, who ironically profited from England's demise this week, are contracted to Portugal and Russia to the end of Euro 2008 respectively.

In any case, there are serious problems to overcome with both men; Scolari having publicly humiliated Barwick once by rejecting his advances, while Hiddink has agreed - but not yet signed - a two-year extension to remain with Russia.

So, if Mourinho withdraws, the list of options for Barwick could look very thin indeed, so thin in fact, it might be time to start thinking the unthinkable.

The very prospect of having a German in charge of the English national side will be enough to have some bristling and Berti Vogts' disastrous spell in charge of Scotland is hardly an ideal template.

But Franz Beckenbauer is not alone in thinking Jurgen Klinsmann would be perfect.

Currently out of work and living in California, Klinsmann has retained a keen interest in the English game following his successful stint as a player with Tottenham.

He speaks the language perfectly, a problem that could scupper the hopes of Capello, is a smooth media operator and, in guiding a sub-standard German team to the semi-finals of the last World Cup, has proved he can do the job.

"Who can carry the boys with the three lions on their shirt out of their coma," Beckenbauer told Bild.

"One name comes to my mind immediately: Jurgen Klinsmann.

"For him the England job would be ideal. He is a man who has clear visions and he can push them through against opposition and with him I could very well imagine a new beginning in England.

"He speaks the language perfectly and enjoys a brilliant reputation in England because of his stint at Tottenham and he is looking for a new challenge in a country with great tradition and enthusiasm for football.

"I am already curious whether the FA has the same idea as me."