Southgate's job safe, regardless of Cup fate

LONDON - England manager Gareth Southgate will not lose his job even if his team struggles at next year's World Cup in Russia, Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn told British media on the weekend.

The FA sees the tournament as an "important staging post in the development" of a young squad and while that does not mean a "free pass," they would be reluctant to fire the manager, said Glenn.

The 47-year-old Southgate, who was appointed just over a year ago on a four-year deal, has been handed the task of developing his squad and fostering the international careers of the England players who won the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cup championships.