FA 'set to interview diverse coaches' in hunt for new England manager - with search for Gareth Southgate's successor the first since introduction of Football Leadership Diversity Code

The FA is set to interview diverse coaches who meet the job criteria in the appointment process for the new England manager.

English football's governing body, led by Mark Buckingham, are on the hunt for their first new manager of the men's team since 2016 after Gareth Southgate revealed he would be stepping down as manager this week.

The 53-year-old's departure came on the back of another European Championship final defeat, and the FA have pledged to take as long as needed to find a successor with an interim option in place if required.

The recruitment process, according to Sky News, will involve finding a manager through interviews with diverse coaches, with a number of candidates already identified.

It is the first time a men's manager will be appointed since the Football Leadership Diversity Code was introduced in 2020.

The Code was brought into play to 'drive diversity and inclusion' across the game in a bid to increase equal opportunities.

Men's clubs were set a target of ensuring 10 per cent of new senior coach hires would be black, Asian or of mixed heritage.

The FA's diversity code reads: 'Hiring will be based on merit, to find the best person for the job from diverse talent pipelines and the aim is to move away from recruitment practices focused on personal networks, which is a longstanding challenge across football and has limited the diversity in leadership across the game.'

According to the report, a specific job advert will not be published, but the FA are keen to appoint a manager who is able to handle intense public interest and scrutiny with experience in a high-profile job.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who is black and was part of Southgate's coaching staff at the time of his departure, said of his coaching experiences in football: 'I have applied for a lot of jobs, and the majority I didn't get an interview. Why? I don't know. I can only tell you I didn't get an interview, and I only want to get a job because they think that I'm the right person for the job.

'And I do know that a lot of black ex-players don't want to go and take their coaching badges because they think that we don't get a fair chance.'

There were two black managers in the Premier League last season, while England have never had a black men's manager.