FA technical director, Dan Ashworth, insists that Arsene Wenger was not the first choice for the England job, contrary to reports.

When it emerged that Sam Allardyce was set to be named as the new England manager, an unknown source claimed that he was second choice and that Arsene Wenger had actually been approached but turned the position down. The boss supposedly wanted to honour the final year of his contract at Arsenal.

Ashworth has now denied the reports, claiming that Allardyce was the only man for the job. Although, of course he’s going to say that considering no one likes to be second best.

“No,” Ashworth stated to talkSPORT.

“We only offered the job to one person and we offered the job to Sam [Allardyce], obviously.

“And he was delighted to accept it There were a lot of rumours about who was favourite and who wasn’t.

“In fact, I think there was a different favourite every day for a period of time but that [Wenger being first choice] was not the case at all.”

Perhaps Wenger wasn’t formally approached but I’m sure there was some inquiring here and there to see whether the Frenchman would consider it. Either way, Allardyce is now the England manager and Wenger is still Arsenal boss; any speculation regarding who was picked over who is moot at this point.