Wilko: I'm still in charge of Under 21s

Howard Wilkinson has been backed by the FA to continue in his role as manager of the England Under 21 side.

It was thought that Tuesday night's friendly against Italy in Monza - which was abandoned after only 11 minutes because of fog - might be Wilkinson's last game in control, especially as Charlton's Alan Curbishley and Brian Kidd, former chief coach at Manchester United, have been included in the FA's new coaching team.

But Wilkinson, who is also the FA's technical director, and possibly on a shortlist of three for the vacant Bradford City job, said last night: 'Who said that? I intend to carry on working with the Under 21 side.'

FA chairman Geoff Thompson confirmed it when he said: 'As far as I am concerned, Howard will remain in control. Sven Goran Eriksson has just been appointed and is not due to start until next summer.

'But Howard has a contract with us, so that is that as far as we are concerned.'

The FA has already indicated that Kidd and Curbishley figure in its future plans and will be a second tier of expertise.