Taylor and Lee handed new roles

Peter Taylor and Sammy Lee were today handed major new England roles under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Both had been working on a temporary basis with the national team but are stepping up as the Football Association attempt to banish the disappointment of Euro 2004 and re-establish England as a major force in world football.

Taylor, whose position at the FA will be reviewed when his contract as Hull City manager expires next year, replaces David Platt as England Under-21 manager. He takes charge for his first game against Ukraine at Middlesbrough on 17 August.

As a goodwill gesture to Hull, initially reluctant to allow the former England and Spurs winger to fill both jobs, the FA have agreed that they stage the European Championship Under-21 qualifying tie against Germany next March.

Lee, the former Liverpool and England midfield player, has joined the FA as a full-time staff coach to work alongside Eriksson with the senior squad.

Both appointments, recommended by the FA's director of football development Trevor Brooking, follow the recent departures of Platt, Les Read, Stuart Baxter and Paul Bracewell from the coaching staff at Soho Square.

Taylor and Lee are considered among the best young English coaches and, if successful, either could be groomed in future to succeed Eriksson as national team manager.

Taylor, of course, has already experienced the big job in the period between Kevin Keegan's departure and Eriksson's appointment. He took charge for the friendly match against Italy in Turin in November 2000. England lost 1-0, but played well and, significantly, Taylor made David Beckham captain.